A nonprofit group trying to preserve the botanical gardens at the former Heronswood Nursery in Kingston ended negotiations to buy the property Saturday.
The group, the Pacific Northwest Horticultural Conservancy, and current owner W. Atlee Burpee Co. were a million dollars apart on the proposed purchase price, according to a prepared statement from the group.
Heronswood, founded by horticulturist Dan Hinkley, is a treasure trove filled with plants Hinkley acquired Indiana Jones-style on his world travels. Burpee purchased Heronswood and then unexpectedly closed the nursery and gardens last spring.
Plant lovers united to form the nonprofit to buy and preserve the gardens. The group (http://www.weloveplants.org/index.html) has been negotiating with Burpee since October. When Burpee president George Ball didn’t respond to the groups latest offer to buy the property, they ended negotiations.
“Our research has shown that comparable and superior properties are selling for far less than Mr. Ball’s asking price,” the statement reads. “As a nonprofit, PNHC takes seriously its duty to donors to make sound and responsible financial decisions, and will not put the organization in fiscal jeopardy by committing itself to an unsupportable expenditure.”
They wanted to open the garden to the public as well as turn the gardens into a horticultural research and education center. The group envisioned offering seminars and classes to the public as well as horticultural students.
The group plans to meet in June and consider its options.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
