Expert Landscape Solutions for the San Juan Islands

Over 15 years of experience creating verdant and abundant landscapes

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A landscaped yard with a tree featuring orange and green leaves, surrounded by various plants and grasses. A wooden house with a balcony is visible on the right. In the background, there are mountains and a cloudy sky.

Proudly Serving Eastsound, Orcas Island, and the San Juan Islands.

At Orchards, Gardens, & Irrigation, we are dedicated to crafting stunning landscapes that thrive in the unique environment of the San Juan Islands. With over 15 years of experience, our team specializes in expert irrigation solutions, innovative landscape design & installation, and personalized consultation services. Join us in transforming your outdoor space into a lush, vibrant oasis that reflects the beauty of the San Juan Islands.

  • We have been happily working with James Most for a number of years, both at our home, and at our commercial business. James has been put in charge of the care of our fruit and nut orchards at home providing fencing, planting, pruning, grafting, fertilizing, and irrigation services, and more. He has installed and maintained a drip irrigation system on our restaurant grounds as well. In my experience, James has been meticulous in his work, from development of plan, to timely execution thereof. From selection of materials on a fencing project, to a completed pruning job, including clean up, the results for us have always been very satisfactory, and aesthetically appealing. I would certainly recommend James, and wish to continue in our collaboration with him! Five star review!

    — John

  • James Most is an invaluable resource and I can’t recommend him highly enough. His technical knowledge and abilities are backed by a sincere desire to do good work and to be helpful. He’s got a kind of old world generosity that is rare and precious. As a landscape designer, I count on James to install the best irrigation systems possible. His work and customer service are way above par. Our island community is very lucky to have him!

    – Emily

  • “Orchards, Gardens, & Irrigation have literally done "orchard, garden, and irrigation" for us. We were lucky to associate with James &Co. for our earliest property needs, and have continued to rely on their knowledge, experience, and ingenuity for diverse projects for 10 years now. If you've been outside on Orcas Island, you've probably seen their work.”

    — Paige

  • James’ installation of a new irrigation system has changed my small farm exponentially! He was prompt, efficient and a pleasure to work with. He made the project doable and thought of good solutions for my expanding market garden. Highly recommended!

    – Hailey

  • James Most came highly recommended and of the two bids, we chose him for his understanding and efficiency in being able to understand the complexities of our garden site(s) and the terrain. In less time than estimated, he and his crew completed the layout of the system. His follow through with the orientation helped us. As we spoke with other property owners and his clients they also agreed with our choice. He was interested in our satisfaction and exceeded our expectations.

    – Barbara

  • James came to me highly recommended, and I pass on that recommendation without reservation. I originally met with him to review the irrigation plan created by Seattle "experts" for an extensive residential landscape install. James quickly uncovered some major flaws in the plan, and conveyed that information clearly and respectfully, while offering a selection of better options. His knowledge of native plants, keen artistic eye, and easy working manner led me to engage him to revise and oversee the entire project. From final plant selection to install, he handled everything, and I could not be happier with the process or the result. He is great at listening to your vision, and then offering several different strategies for getting you where you want to go, based on the time, money and energy you want to put in. He brings a refreshing blend of enthusiasm and pragmatism to his work. Highly recommended.

    - Brad

Man standing outdoors next to a young tree with a large root ball wrapped in blue straps, smiling, with a yellow construction vehicle in the background.
A landscaped backyard with a small tree with orange and red leaves, a raised garden bed with various green plants, including lavender, and an area of low-growing shrubs and plants extending up a grassy hillside.
Backyard garden with young plants, small trees, and potted plants on black mulch, surrounded by a black fence and a pathway.
Construction site with a large excavator lifting a tree with roots still attached near a modern house, with an open car trunk nearby.
A person planting a small tree with pink blossoms in a landscaped yard outside a modern house, surrounded by other small plants and decorative rocks.
A man wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, a dark shirt, and suspenders standing outdoors on grass, holding a shovel, with a small red tractor and green trees in the background.
A man operating a yellow Caterpillar excavator unloading large bags of debris onto a flatbed truck in a wooded area.
A bee flying near purple flower spikes in green foliage.
Close-up of a red and yellow flower with honeybees collecting nectar, against a blurred green and yellow background.
A narrow garden path surrounded by lush green plants and colorful flowers, with a wooden arched gate and trees in the background.
Person working outdoors in a backyard garden, planting a flower bed with a wheelbarrow, garden tools, and supplies nearby.
A pink dahlia flower in full bloom with a green bud in the background.
A modern garden with potted plants and a small tree, landscape stones, and a backyard fence with a building in the background.
Two people working outdoors in a cleared forested area with trees in the background. One person is holding a shovel, and the other is standing with hands in pockets, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and pink gloves.
Young trees planted in a newly landscaped area with white tree protectors around each trunk, surrounded by a forest with tall trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Two men working outdoors in a wooded area with tools, buckets, and supplies, standing on a stone structure near a partially landscaped yard.
A fenced garden with various plants, a shed in the background, and a picnic table on the right, in a wooded area with sunlight filtering through trees.
Three men working outdoors in a grassy field, one holding a red tool, another with a large power tool, with wooden posts and a green machine nearby, hills and cloudy sky in the background.
A lush garden with a gravel path running through it, bordered by various green shrubs and flowering plants, with trees and a wooden gate in the background.
A worker using a crane to lift a large, uprooted pine tree with a root ball wrapped in a tarp. The worker is wearing a wide-brimmed hat and standing on dirt, with a pickup truck and a forested area in the background on a sunny day.
A man working outdoors near a house, measuring the ground with a tape measure, with a large rusted metal fire pit, green garden hose, and gravel in the yard, during sunset.
A large circular metal garden bed filled with various green and red plants, situated next to a house with gray siding and black-framed windows.
A modern house with gray shingle siding, multiple black-framed windows, and a gabled roof with dark shingles. In the front yard, there is a small tree with orange and red leaves, surrounded by a garden with various green plants and a large rust-color
Residential house with light gray siding, multiple large windows, a black asphalt driveway, and a landscaped garden with purple lavender, ornamental grasses, and a small tree.
A landscaped front yard with a small tree with orange leaves, a raised garden bed with various plants, and a white house with black-framed windows and shingle siding.
Front yard of a house with chalk markings on the grass, surrounded by tall trees and a misty atmosphere.
A backyard garden with a curved gravel pathway, landscaped with different green plants, small shrubs, and flowers, in front of a wooden deck attached to a house with mountains in the background.
A landscaped yard next to a wooden house features a small tree with orange and green leaves, surrounded by various shrubs and grasses, with mountains and trees in the background.
Two men working on building raised garden beds outdoors with trees in the background. One man is smiling, holding a long piece of wood; the other is using a miter saw. The wood frames are partially assembled on a gravel surface.
A garden with raised wooden beds filled with various green leafy plants, some tall and vine-like, with a gravel pathway running between the beds. A person wearing a hat is working in the garden, and a forested area with tall trees is visible in the b
Modern house with large windows surrounded by lush green trees, purple flowering plants, and a landscaped garden in a forest setting.
A landscaped garden with young trees, various green shrubs, and purple flowers, surrounded by rocks and bordered by a dark house wall, with drip irrigation hoses visible on the soil.
Newly landscaped front yard with small shrubs, ornamental grasses, rocks, and a log in front of a dark-colored house with a wooden porch and steps.
A garden bed with vibrant orange poppies and purple lavender flowers growing together.
A garden bed with ornamental grass and purple lavender flowers, with a house and greenery in the background.
A garden with a protective greenhouse structure over planted crops or plants, surrounded by a grassy yard and neighboring houses under a clear sky with sunlight.
A small vegetable garden within a metal greenhouse frame, surrounded by raised wooden beds with various plants and flowers, located outdoors under a clear blue sky.
A greenhouse with a wooden pathway inside, surrounded by raspberry bushes, with trees in the background.
Garden pathway inside a greenhouse with rows of strawberry plants and green foliage, supported by a metal arch structure and a mesh covering.
Side view of a vegetable garden with raspberry bushes on the left and berry bushes on the right, separated by a gravel pathway. A greenhouse with a curved metal frame and mesh covering is along the pathway. In the background, a house, a driveway, and
A lush garden with various green plants, purple flowers, and shrubbery, near a patio overlooking a body of water and trees in the background.
A man planting a curved garden border with small shrubs and tall ornamental grasses, with empty planting pots scattered along the grass.

Our Services

  • Achieve a lush, thriving landscape with our expert irrigation systems. We install efficient new systems with smart technology options and specialize in retrofitting old systems for improved performance. From residential gardens to large-scale installations, we ensure your landscape receives the perfect amount of water while conserving this precious resource.

  • A beautifully designed landscape begins with clear goals. Whether you're revitalizing post-construction soil, creating a tranquil backyard retreat with shaded areas and fruit trees, or simply refreshing your existing landscape, we're here to help. By blending your vision with site-specific factors like sunlight, deer presence, and water availability, we craft a landscape that not only meets your aesthetic desires but also suits your maintenance preferences. Let us create a landscape that transforms your outdoor space into a thriving, low-maintenance oasis.

  • Let us bring your orchard vision to life with our comprehensive installation services. From fencing to tree planting and irrigation, we handle every aspect of orchard establishment. With our experience in establishing numerous successful orchards on Orcas, we understand the best fruit varieties for the San Juans and the techniques to ensure rapid tree establishment and fruit production.

  • We offer "walk and talk" consultations to brainstorm and troubleshoot various topics, including plant identification, disease diagnosis, fruit pollination, choosing the right plants, maintenance strategies, and improving vegetable gardens, among others.

  • Experience the joy of growing your own vegetables with expert help! Whether you prefer raised beds or in-ground plots, we'll install a vegetable garden tailored to your property. As avid gardeners ourselves, we understand the satisfaction of homegrown produce and are here to ensure your garden thrives.

  • Ensure a bountiful harvest of berries and cherries with our protective berry cages! In the San Juans, birds can be a significant threat to your crop. Our cages, available in both permanent and seasonal options, are designed for ease of use and are highly effective at safeguarding your fruits.

  • From budget-friendly T-stakes to custom split cedar work, we construct deer and livestock fences using a variety of materials. Our expertise spans projects of all sizes, from large orchards to conservation restoration initiatives to small backyard gardens. Whatever your fencing needs, we have the experience to deliver.

  • Transform your fruit tree into your desired variety with our topworking grafting service! If your tree produces an excess of one type of fruit or lacks quality, we can graft it to yield a different variety. Our topworking process often involves grafting 3-4 different varieties onto the same tree, providing you with a diverse harvest spread throughout the season.

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