PixsMe

Spring has painted Washington D.C. with a vibrant display of cherry blossoms this year. The Tidal Basin, a haven for these delicate pink and white blooms, has once again become a captivating sight for tourists worldwide. Every year, visitors flock to capture the fleeting beauty and pay homage to a local legend: Stumpy, the lone cherry blossom clinging to the basin’s edge.

Stumpy, a beloved survivor of countless floods, has garnered a dedicated following. Sadly, this year marks its final farewell. The National Park Service is embarking on a crucial construction project around the Tidal Basin to repair the seawalls, necessitating the removal of 158 cherry blossoms, including the weathered Stumpy. While its decay prevents replanting, I seized the opportunity to bid a personal farewell and capture its image one last time.

Interestingly, the world of art offers another “Stumpy.” Wenceslaus Hollar, a 17th-century artist, created the etching “Albury with Tree-Stump in Foreground” (Figure 1). This masterpiece showcases a masterful use of linework, capturing the tree’s lean, the contrast of textures between trunk and leaves, and an overall richness of detail.

Figure 1 – Albury with Tree-Stump in Foreground (1645) (Wenceslaus Hollar)

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/361093

Stumpy, a local treasure by the Tidal Basin, has become a testament to the enduring spirit of nature. Saying goodbye is bittersweet, but both the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms and the permanence of art in works like Hollar’s “Albury” remind us that cherished memories can bloom forever in our hearts. Though departing the Tidal Basin, Stumpy’s legacy will undoubtedly endure. By capturing its image, I hope to share this legacy and inspire others to appreciate the resilience of nature and the beauty it creates.

References:

1. National Park Service. (2024, March 13). National Park Service prepares for $113 million multi-year repair to Tidal Basin and West Potomac seawalls [Press release]. https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/seawallstart.htm#:~:text=Site%20preparation%20at%20the%20Tidal,and%20Franklin%20Delano%20Roosevelt%20Memorial