||| FROM PERRI GIBBONS for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB |||
Madrona Murphy
Please join the Orcas Island Garden Club on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 when we welcome botanist Madrona Murphy for an exploration of the vast diversity of apples that grow (and have grown) on Orcas Island. Madrona will share the results of mapping and genetic sampling of heritage orchards and seedling apples on Orcas; introduce you to some long forgotten varieties (as well as some newly discovered seedling varieties); and give you tools for growing climate resilient apples and building habitat in your orchard.
Madrona Murphy is the botanist and lab manager for Kwiaht, a non-profit conservation research cooperative based on Lopez and working throughout the San Juans. She grew up on Lopez Island and has been working as a professional botanist in the islands for over 20 years. Her research focuses on plant-human interactions, including invasive plants, Coast Salish agriculture, and heritage and locally adapted tree fruits.
She also volunteers with Kwiaht’s Indian Island Marine Health Observatory and with the Orcas Island Historical Museums hosts annual apple tastings and scion exchanges.
The presentation begins at 10 am at the Orcas Center and will be followed by social time. The presentation will also be available via zoom. For a link to the live zoom presentation go to the Orcas Island Garden Club website and click the link below the list of presentations. The presentation will be recorded. To watch the recorded presentation, go to the link ‘recorded presentations’ under resources on the club website.
For more about Kwiaht and Madrona’s role go to: www.kwiaht.org/index.htm
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