Stroll the blossom-lined Tidal Basin right now, and about a minute west of the Jefferson Memorial, you’ll approach an almost paparazzi-like scene: fans clamoring to view what’s been called a “hero,” ...

In the flood of adjectives used to describe Stumpy during the famous cherry tree's last peak bloom — "hero," "icon," "sensation," "celebrity" and so on — "stubborn" is a word used less often. But ...