Heritage Apple Orchard

The intent of the MG Heritage Apple Orchard on Lopez is to be an educational demonstration orchard which features historic, heritage apple varieties where Master Gardeners provide community education on pruning, disease and pest management, fruit tree propagation and more. The Orchard site is located on San Juan County Park land between the Lopez Island History Society Museum and the County Park Restroom Facilities in Lopez Village. The Lopez Island Historical Society has offered to provide water for the orchard through a drip irrigation system. Master Gardeners grafted 27 heritage trees in spring 2016 with the help of Madrona Murphy, botanist with Kwaiht. Her work identifying heritage apples varieties and instruction in propagation has been of great importance to this project. The grafted trees have spent 2 years growing in a nursery bed in Anne’s garden. The trees were planted March 10, 2018. The project is receiving financial support for installation from the Lopez thrift shop, Lopez Island Garden Club, the Master Gardener Foundation and a large San Juan County Lodging Tax grant.

The signs and benches have been installed at the garden! Graphic Design for the signs by Lopez Island Master Gardener, Anne Whirledge-Karp, Printed on DiBold by Mortensen Signs and sign holder fabrication by LIHS volunteer, Charles Givens. The cedar benches were created by Steve Sovelove, a Lopez Island artisan. Cedar for benches was grown on Lopez Island and donated by Pat Kuentzel. Funding for the signs and benches has been provided by a San Juan County LTAC grant.