Boutique nursery finds new life, owners

Four buyers are in final negotiations to purchase Gardens in Austin, Texas, The American-Statesman reported. This is good news for many longtime customers who have been lamenting the closing of Gardens, the 35th Street landmark opened by James David and Gary Peese nearly 30 years ago. The two sold the business to Bill Bauer in 2006, wanting to simplify their life, Peese said. They still own the galvanized metal building and operate David/Peese Design at a separate location.

Bauer closed the Austin business and a second Gardens location in Dallas earlier this year. “The economic forces that brought down so many other businesses in Austin and around the country were the cause,” he said.

Two of the new potential owners, Vivian Wilson and Ellen Lake, were among Gardens' devoted customers, but didn't know each other until each expressed an interest in purchasing the business.

Bauer will continue to operate the Gardens landscape design and construction business, and most, if not all, of the staff will be rehired, Wilson said. Nurserygoers will find handpicked plants at the peak of health when the store reopens.

She said it is too soon to anticipate when that will be. “We want to put all our effort into making this store as amazing as we can. Our goal is to get this done as quickly as possible so that people who rely on it will not be disappointed.”