Daisaku Nomoto workshop

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a workshop led by Daisaku Nomoto. In town from Miyazaki, Japan, to help with the BIB exhibit, Nomoto spent the day helping a handful of students with their trees. I spent most of the day with a white pine I’d picked up at last year’s BIB Auction. Here’s what the tree looked like when I bought it.

White pine, January, 2013

And here’s the tree a year later after removing a branch on the left side of the tree and letting the other branches regain some vigor.

White pine – January, 2014

Back side

Right side

Looking closely at the details brings up a pretty obvious question – onto what species has the white pine been grafted here?

Deadwood detail

Grafts

Deadwood and grafts

Bark and deadwood

I’ve since learned that Jimmy Inadomi made the grafts, but onto what no one is certain. After a few hours of cutback and wiring, Nomoto helped me get the tree into shape.

Nomoto putting on some finishing touches (why the long face?)

Here’s how the tree ended up.

White pine – front

Left side

The tree still needs plenty of work, but I’m happy that the work has finally begun. I’ll clean up more of the deadwood when I find the time and revisit the tree in fall when the growing season ends.