WASHINGTON — Some of D.C.'s most beloved mascots were spotted at the Tidal Basin on Friday. The Nationals Racing Presidents were seen taking in the splendor of peak bloom, and showing some love for Stumpy, the hollow-but-beloved cherry tree expected to be removed later this year.
Later this spring, a $113 million project will begin to reconstruct the aging seawalls along the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park. As part of the project, approximately 300 trees will need to be removed, including 140 of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin – Stumpy among them. Word of Stumpy's impending removal has inspired tributes of many kinds, including flowers, and a unique costumed crusader.
George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt were seen running around the Tidal Basin, visiting Stumpy, and high fiving visitors.
If you plan on seeing the blooms, you may want to make like the presidents and run down to the Tidal Basin sooner rather than later.
The WUSA9 weather team has issued a Weather Watch Alert for rain Saturday. Once the trees hit peak bloom, rain and wind are the enemy. The heavy rain and gusty wind will likely bring down quite a few petals over the weekend.
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