The 80-year-old apricot tree, shaped like a yellow peacock spreading its tail, is the pride of Mr. Nguyen Van Doi's family (76 years old, living in Dong Binh commune, Binh Minh town, Vinh Long province). Someone once offered billions for this apricot tree, but Mr. Doi refused to sell it. The old farmer affirmed that no matter how much money was offered, he would not sell it because this was a keepsake left by his late father to his descendants.
Mr. Doi said that his father planted the apricot tree when he was young in his paternal field. When he was about 20 years old, he moved here to live and take care of the apricot tree. From his green hair to now white hair, the yellow apricot tree has grown up with Mr. Doi, matured and aged over the years.
The apricot tree is a traditional yellow apricot variety with 5 petals. The tree is nearly 5m high, the apricot branches grow evenly and intertwine like a giant net forming a 60m circumference covering the entire front yard.
According to the homeowner, the special feature of this apricot tree is that the apricot branches are dispersed when growing. If viewed directly, it looks exactly like a peacock, so many people also call the apricot tree "peacock apricot".
This year, on the first day of Tet, Mr. Doi's apricot tree just started to bloom.
Mr. Doi used bamboo to support the apricot branches. Wherever the branches reached, he built a trellis to prevent the apricot trees from drooping to the ground. In addition, Mr. Doi also made a fence to prevent chickens from digging into the tree roots.
"I have never adjusted this apricot tree. When the branches grow long, I prop the tree up. Pruning or bending the tree is very painful," said Mr. Doi.
According to Mr. Doi's observation, this year the apricot tree has more bumps, lumps, and rough spots at the base... showing the tree's age.
Since December 12, Mr. Doi and his wife have been picking apricot leaves, it took them 5 days to finish picking the "old apricot". This year the weather is cold, many apricot trees bloom late and have fewer buds, however, perhaps due to their old age, Mr. Doi's apricot tree is still full of buds.
"I don't dare hire outsiders to pick the flowers because I'm afraid of breaking buds or scratching branches. I love this apricot tree so much, it makes me feel so sorry when I see it with worms or broken branches," Mr. Doi said.
Over the years, the apricot tree has grown and aged with Mr. Doi. Every Tet holiday, the apricot tree blooms to beautify his yard during Tet.
Mr. Ba Doi's "heaven-sent" peacock is brilliant in front of his house.
Dantri.com.vn
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