Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 05/10/2026Botanical illustrator Linda Ann Vorobik is curating a pop up art show featuring Lopez Island apples, and teaching a watercolor class using Lopez apples, on the weekend of October 24th and 25th. 141
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026Come taste historic apple varieties from Friday Harbor (and the rest of the islands) in Friday Harbor tomorrow. We'll be at the Grange from 3-5 with hard copies of the apple map. 052
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026There are quite a few seedling trees to visit as well. And two of the biggest native qáyexwilch (Malus fusca) we've ever seen (back behind the old Convalescent Center/soon to be new Library) 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026If you head out to Evergreen Park (a small square of lawn off of Spruce Street), you'll find a Baldwin growing from the neighbor's yard out over the park. Baldwin is a great keeper, ripening late and staying pretty (and tasty) all winter. 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026Back at Spring Street International School there are three big Glowing Coal trees right out front. A very unusual early ripening variety, the large fruit are very juicy, with a honey flavor. 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026Right along the road across Argyle Avenue from the Land Bank is a big beautiful Belmont tree. This variety is rare, perhaps because it is too delicate to ship or store, but is a delightful tart dessert apple. 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026Peeking over the fence at the Land Bank's parking lot is a Red Gravenstein, based on when it would have been planted it was very likely grafted from the blood red sport discovered in Olga on Orcas Island around 1905. And there's another of the same with the King behind the Museum of Art. 120
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026There are two yellow Gravensteins in the county annex across from the court house, and one in the front yard of the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank's office. 120
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/10/2026You'll find King of Tompkins County, for example, behind the Masonic Hall, alongside the Key Bank parking lot, behind Spring Street International School, and behind the San Juan Islands Museum of Art 120
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 01/10/2026We have a lot of events this month! More info on our Calendar www.kwiaht.org/calendar.htm 010
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 26/09/2026We have started using Zines to get the word out about our work and events 121
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 24/09/2026We have qáyexw (Malus fusca, Pacific crabapple) at the LeMaister Farm fruit stand! They are tart and richly flavored. 161
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 18/09/2026The Orcas Island Yacht Club is organizing a trip from Orcas to Salt Spring Island for their apple festival. 061
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 14/09/2026We have upcoming apple events! This Saturday, September 19th @arbutocrat.bsky.social and apple ID expert Lori Brakken will be at the San Juan Island Library for Lost Apples of the San Juan Islands from 12-1:30 pm. 141
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 09/09/2026There are some red apples that are nearly blue. Blue Pearmain, Arkansas Black, and Robert's Crab for example. (the real answer is pigments and the limited variety that apples make) 120
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 09/09/2026Canada Reinette (Reinette Blanche du Canada) is considered an excellent tarte-tatin apple. 161
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 09/09/2026Yellow Bellflower! It's been popular for over 200 years and is pretty, unusually shaped, and tastes fantastic fresh, is amazing in pies, and makes fine cider. 1141
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 07/09/2026The farm stand is on Port Stanley Road, approximately 0.2 miles south of the intersection with Hummel Lake Road. While we have fruit to share it will be stocked from 12 until dark. Today we have 131
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 07/09/2026The first day of our seasonal fruitstand at LeMaister Farm is tomorrow, Labor Day. We'll have unique Eastsound Rose seedling apples (they taste like roses!) and Gravensteins from the farm's orchard. Heritage apples (like Gravenstein) are pay-what-you-wish, unique new varieties are $1 an apple. 3155
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 31/08/2026Some of the "wild" flavored macarons @arbutocrat.bsky.social made for our event at Lime Kiln Point State Park. 041
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 28/08/2026This Sunday, August 30th, we're sharing what makes the landscape at Lime Kiln Point State Park unique, with talks, walks, and treats made with wild plants. We're joined by F.O.L.K.S, PKOLS, Salish Wildlife Rescue, and Washington State Parks. 3-5pm 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 27/08/2026Join us and Salish Wildlife Rescue at Mountain Lake in Moran State Park for batwatching by moonlight at 7pm tonight (August 27). 121
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 24/08/2026Come watch bats with us at Moran State Park! Thursday August 27th at the Mountain Lake ranger station and dock starting at 7pm 020
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 24/08/2026Join us, Washington State Parks, Salish Wildlife Rescue, F.O.L.K.S. and PKOLS at Lime Kiln Point State Park on Sunday August 30th from 3-5pm to explore the local landscape, learn more about the post-glacial geophysical, biological, and cultural factors that have shaped the park and eat wild snacks. 010
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 15/08/2026The San Juan Island Community Foundation is awarding a bonus grant for one of the correct answers to this local history question "Which Coast Salish fishing technology used a large, suspended net between canoes to catch migrating salmon?" Answers can be emailed to info@sjicf.org 100
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 14/08/2026Come see Kwiaht botanist @arbutocrat.bsky.social at the San Juan County Fair today (Friday August 14th) at the Ag Tent at 12:30 to learn more about qáyexw, hybrid apples, and the ancient fruit forests of the islands. 100
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 14/08/2026Among North American native crabapples, qáyexwilch are unique in that they freely hybridize with orchard apples (Malus domestica), and these hybrids can be found throughout the islands, generally producing larger fruit but retaining the high citric acid and more "wild" flavor. 100
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 14/08/2026Qáyexw (ḴÁ¸EW̱, qéʔəxʷ) is the original apple of the islands. Also known as Malus fusca, Pacific crabapple, or Oregon crabapple, qáyexwilch (qáyexw trees) are native to western North America 193
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 11/08/2026We're going to the San Juan County Fair! Talk to us about apples, community science, and local stewardship on Friday and Saturday. Friday we'll be at the Ag Tent for @arbutocrat.bsky.social's talk about the Coast Salish roots of island orchards, Saturday find us at the Community Foundation booth. 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 29/07/2026Come learn about local pollinators from our hard working field tech Sophie Citro and summer apprentice Tyler Iyengar on Thursday August 6th at the Orcas Island Public Library from noon-3pm. 041
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 16/07/2026Surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus) were spawning on the beach by the Hunter Bay boat ramp when we returned from our Lopez Community Salmon Team beach seine yesterday evening. 110
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 03/07/2026Our newest book. Important Indigenous plants in the San Juan Islands and their names in Lekwungen (Northern Straits Salish). Available soon at bookshops and libraries in the islands or contact us to order by donation (info@kwiaht.org) 181
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 18/04/2026Minus tides this weekend, and we are hosting a community clam dig on Sunday April 19 starting at 11:30 at the end of Mud Bay Dock Road on Lopez Island. 140
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 02/04/2026Our last scheduled scion exchange and grafting workshop is coming up this Saturday April 4th at the Orcas Island Museum in Eastsound. We'll be there with heritage apple scions and rootstock from 12-3pm rain or shine. 020
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 02/04/2026We're raising funds through the San Juan Island Community Foundation to start restoring native plants and cultural landscapes at Cattle Point (San Juan Island) with PKOLS (Protecting Knowledge of Land and Sea) and the San Juan Islands National Monument. You can donate through April 15th. 000
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 26/03/2026We are seeking an exceptional middle or high-school student to work part-time as an ecosystem steward alongside adult volunteers and Kwiaht scientists at Indian Island, Eastsound. Preference given to Orcas Island students. Interested? Write to info@kwiaht.org to schedule an interview. 020
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 06/03/2026It's grafting season! We have upcoming grafting workshops with heritage island apples on San Juan (March 21st), Lopez (March 29th), and Orcas (April 4th). 170
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 10/02/2026Come let Russel Barsh introduce you to the lesser known butterflies and moths of the San Juan archipelago. February 22nd at the Orcas Odd Fellows Hall from 2-3:30 The illustrated handbook Butterflies of the San Juan Islands (and some interesting moths) will be available. 041
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 22/01/2026Want to learn more about our research in the marine waters around the San Juan Islands? Kwiaht director Russel Barsh will tell you all about it at our Marine Matinee on Sunday January 25th at Lopez Center. 030
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 31/12/2025We have a new book out! A guide to the moths and butterflies of the San Juan Islands. Available at the Lopez Bookshop (and on its way to other local booksellers) or by donation to Kwiaht www.kwiaht.org/donate.htm 061
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 13/11/2025Tonight! Kwiaht ecologist Russel Barsh at the Lopez Library with Shining a Light on Local Moths starting at 6pm. And while you are there you can see local high school artist (and Kwiaht lab tech) Sophie Citro's moth art and buy a ticket (or many) for her moth sculpture raffle. 030
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 07/10/2025Join us for our 7th annual Camas Festival! A potluck featuring camas (Camassia leichtlinii) based dishes and presentations and discussion of camas cultivation. Saturday October 25th 12-3pm at the Stevens Center of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. www.kwiaht.org/calendar.htm 020
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 30/09/2025More heritage apple events coming up in October! Our third annual apple tasting with the Orcas Museum is Saturday October 4th (12:30-2:30), and on October 11th we're joining the San Juan County Land Bank, apple ID expert Lori Brakken, and master orchardist Marguerite Greening for Apple-Palooza 020
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 19/08/2025Western leafcutter bee (Megachile perihirta) taking off from a Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) inflorescence near Cattle Point (San Juan Islands National Monument). 120
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 17/08/2025Do you need more ways to enjoy this years abundant crop of t’áqa7? We have added recipes to the Food Security section of our website. 010
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 26/06/2025Our 2nd annual Hummel Lake fishing derby starts at 8am on Saturday June 28th. Weigh-in ends at 4:30 and prizes are awarded at 5pm. Register at the WDFW boat launch on the day of the event. Contact brett@kwiaht.org with questions. 021
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 07/06/2025Dasysyrphus intrudens, a common and widespread North American hoverfly, enjoying a meal of Fragaria vesca (woodland strawberry) nectar. Syrphid hoverflies like this one should be welcomed in Northwest gardens; their larvae eat aphids voraciously. 000
Kwiaht @kwiaht.org · 29/05/2025We're seining at Watmough Bight this evening (4pm). Everyone welcome to help pull the net and sort fish. 010