Stumpy Is Gone!

It’s official. Stumpy is gone. The little cherry tree that could was removed from the tidal basin yesterday. We knew it was going to happen and now it finally has. I discovered Stumpy long before he became famous. The scraggly little tree would bloom in cherry blossom season even though the base of the trunk was badly eroded. But he came back every year in spite of it. Because of restoration work being done, not only Stumpy, but many cherry trees were removed to repair the basin wall. It floods so badly there that something is finally being done. Luckily I have photos of Stumpy in all seasons since 2018. I even put a collage together and posted it on TeePublic and Redbubble. A few tshirts have been sold in honor of Stumpy. It would be nice if the city commemorated him somehow - aside from the fact that they are supposed to be cloning him and planting the new Stumpies. It’s going to be difficult to walk around the tidal basin for as long as this restoration takes place. All I know is that we will miss Stumpy. 

Stumpy TShirts on Redbubble, TeePublic and FAA/Pixels

It’s such a thrill to receive a notice that one of my digitalart painting items was sold on one of my websites. This morning I got an email from TeePublic saying that a greyhound Tshirt was sold. I usually do not post photos on my websites, but because Stumpy - the famous cherry tree at the Tidal Basin - will be removed due to restoration work, everyone is taking about poor little Stumpy. So I searched for my photos of Stumpy over the years and found several - before he was famous. I posted them all on instagram, then created three composites of Stumpy. Two were of Stumpy in all four seasons and another was Stumpy over time. He looks glorious in spring, summer, fall and winter with the Washington Monument in the background. We have walked by Stumpy so many times. He’s like the little tree that could. As with everyone else we were so disappointed to hear that he will be removed. And since both my husband and I tested positive for Covid ten days ago we have avoided going outside and missing what has always been a most delightful time of the year to take photos. We are finally starting to feel a little more normal but still not ourselves at all. We hope we will be able to visit Stumpy one last time after the cherry blossom festival. We will miss Stumpy. I’m so glad we got to know him. 

We Will Miss You Stumpy!

The first photo I can find of Stumpy - the “little tree that could” - is from 2018. He has now become famous because the park service will be cutting him down for tidal basin improvements that will begin soon. We have been visiting the tidal Basin for the last seventeen years, and also before we moved to Capitol Hill. This little tree is so scrawny you might not even notice. He sits just beyond the Jefferson Memorial. But there, the waters oftentimes flood the area and it has taken a toll on the trees. Every time we meandered that way on our morning walks I would take some photos - long before knowing his fate. And I’m so glad I did! Luckily I have Stumpy in each season from almost the same vantage point with the Washington Memorial in the background. Unfortunately both my husband and I tested positive for Covid last week for the first time and are so disappointed that we can’t walk about like we always do. We are hoping that we will still have a chance to visit after the cherry blossom festival and before the tree destruction. It makes us feel so sad to see him go. But at least we have good memories of this little tree. I’m so glad I noticed him long before the hoopla. Stumpy deserves to be remembered.