An unusual-looking cherry blossom tree in Washington, D.C., that has generated viral buzz on social media is slated for removal.
Nicknamed ‘Stumpy,’ the gnarled tree is one of over 150 other cherry trees scheduled to be taken down as part of a plan to replace the Tide Basin’s deteriorating seawall, theAssociated Pressreported.
People take photos of “Stumpy,” the cherry tree at the Tidal Basin.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty
The NPS said that the removal of 158 out of approximately 3,700 Japanese cherry trees, between the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, will commence in late May.
“This critical investment will ensure the park is able to protect some of the nation’s most iconic memorials and the Japanese flowering cherry trees from the immediate threats of failing infrastructure and rising sea levels for the next 100 years,” said the NPS’ statement.
High tide water reaches to the base of a cherry tree nicknamed “Stumpy” after a visitor left behind a thank you note at the Tidal Basin on March 20, 2024.Alex Wong/Getty
Alex Wong/Getty
PerThe Washington Post, Stumpy’s roots regularly take the brunt of flood water from the Potomac River. But despite that, the tree still stands. “Stumpy is such a unique and well-loved tree because it’s small and deals with Tidal Basin flooding daily,” Dave Lyons, a photographer, told the newspaper. “Yet it’s full of beautiful cherry blossoms. Everyone cheers for the little guy!”
The tree became a social media sensation in 2020 during the pandemic, the AP reported, and has since brought visitors who take photos and pose with Stumpy.
“Every year I have to come at least one day just to see Stumpy,” a visitor toldNBC News, while another person said the famous tree, “It looks so decrepit. But it’s not. It’s full of life.”
Already there’s a call for Stumpy to be saved, with aChange.org petitionasking the NPS to relocate the tree to the National Arboretum, also in Washington, D.C., “where it can continue to thrive in a protected environment while maintaining its cultural and historical importance.”
The petition, which as of Friday afternoon, generated 185 of its goal of 200 signatures, described Stumpy as the “little tree that could.”
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“Stumpy has captured the hearts of residents and visitors alike with its remarkable story of survival against all odds," read the petition’s description. “Despite enduring harsh conditions and facing numerous challenges, this tenacious tree has persevered, becoming a beacon of inspiration for our community.”
The NPS said in its announcement that when the renovation is completed, 455 trees, including 274 cherry trees, will be replanted.
But the NPS added that it is working with the National Arboretum “to preserve ‘Stumpy’s’ legacy. They will propagate clippings from its living sections to create trees that are genetic matches, and when the seawall reconstruction is complete, we will plant them in the park.”
The agency also said that Stumpy and the other removed trees will be mulched and returned to the National Mall, “providing root protection and enriching the soil for living trees for generations to come.”
source: people.com
