Have you ever heard about Stumpy the Cherry Tree in Washington, DC? I had never heard of DC’s beloved treasure until I was watching CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley this Sunday morning. Stumpy is a legend! Although some say she was a gift from Japan, the original batch of cherry trees gifted to the US from Japan took place in 1912. It’s more likely that Stumpy is a replacement tree as she is only about 25 years old—and looking a bit decrepit, I might add.

Stumpy became famous, purportedly, in 2020 when a Reddit user posted a picture and compared Stumpy’s run-down condition to their love life. Many also claim that Stumpy was the symbol of our resilience during COVID. Either way, Stumpy’s tenaciousness encouraged us to be more resilient, too, to hold steadfast and to endure—and maybe even BLOOM! (Stumpy has inexplicably bloomed EVERY spring!)

Stumpy lives under the worst conditions. Due to climate change, the tidal basin floods 2x a day. Most of the trees around the Jefferson Memorial have been removed because the succumbed to these hostile conditions, but stubborn Stumpy has persevered. Please let Stumpy be your motivation for this week and beyond! We aren’t always dealt the best cards, but that’s not what maters most—it’s our heart! That’s were we choose resilience, tenacity, endurance, strength, and we may even choose to bloom!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!
Beth Fitzgerald