Japanese flowering apricot

I walked through the terraces at Sarah P. Duke Gardens yesterday. I try to do this at least once or twice a week. On this visit I couldn't stop admiring the two pairs of Japanese flowering apricots (Prunus mume) that sit near the top terrace. This winter blooming is not unusual. It is what they do.

If I had one in my yard I would have cut a few branches for a Valentine's Day bouquet for my wife. Last year, I used pink camellias for her Feb.14 vase, but those have been slower to open this month. Why aren't these seasonal things available in the grocery stores alongside the hot-house flowers?....probably something to do with supply and demand *sigh*