Stumpy, the Cherry Tree 

Scores of Visitors Gather by Tidal Basin to Honor 'Stumpy'.

With the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial in the background, visitors take photographs of Stumpy, the popular cherry tree at the Tidal Basin as cherry trees enter peak bloom in our Nation's Capitol

Thousands of cherry blossoms bloom in Washington each March bringing tourists from around the world to see this beautiful 'Spring Spectacular' though this year many of them are coming to see one particular tree which has been given the name, Stumpy.

Stumpy, a short cherry tree in poor condition, looks like it shouldn't be in any shape to grow blossoms particularly as floods routinely soak the tree's roots.  Every year, however, it blooms, giving the tree a reputation as a symbol of hope and resilence among its fans. 

This year's cherry blossom season will be the last for Stumpy, along with more than 150 other cherry trees.  The removal is part of a $113 million dollar project announced earlier this month by the National Park Service to rebuild and raise the seawalls around the Tidal Basin and along part of the Potomac River.

Spurred by climate change, floods have worsened along the basin, now occurring twice a day, soaking the roots of many cherry trees and posing a risk to their health.  As a measure to preserve the thousands of cherry trees along the basin, 158 of them will need to be removed to make space for the project. Thousands of visitors arrived at the basin to say goodbye to Stumpy having been fenced off.  Visitors crowded around the fence to take photos of the tree. 

The movement to save Stumpy has gained traction among those who would like to see the tree transplanted.  An online petition to save the tree calling Stumpy "our local cherry blossom hero" collected more than 600 signatures as of Monday.  

Upon completion of the project, set for 2027, 455 trees will be planted, 274 of the 455 will be cherry trees.  The Park Service will also partner with the U.S. National Aboretum to collect clippings and create genetic matches of Stumpy.  

The cherry trees were a gift from Japan in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan.  Staff at the Japanese Embassy visited the tidal basin last week to honor a cherry tree called Stumpy.

Stumpy's "legacy will live on, nurturing future generations of friendship".