Betsey Williams Sycamore

Providence, RI

Collaborators Kurato Fujimoto, Ron Henderson, Hans Friedl, Providence City Forester Doug Still, Providence Parks Department, Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, Providence Neighborhood Tree Planting Program

Trees (1)

Photos James Jones, Ron Henderson

Lirio worked with the Providence City Forester and Providence Parks Department to commission Japanese master gardener, Kurato Fujimoto, to advise and fabricate branch supports for the 240-year-old Betsey Williams sycamore in Roger Williams Park.

Kurato Fujimoto is a master gardener, based in Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture) on the snowy west coast of Japan. He has 20 years of experience - including working under the master gardener Araya in Kanazawa.

He has been working on tree maintenance at Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's three great daimyo gardens, in Kanazawa for more 12 years. He is now leading tree maintenance and gardening on various projects in Kanazawa. He is a master in yukitsuri and brace/crutch design and maintenance. In collaboration with Ron Henderson, he has led tree conservation projects in the United States at Pennsylvania State University and the United States National Arboretum.