Kingston, Wash.--- After shutting down six years ago, Heronswood Nursery is up for auction. Burpee & Co. President and nursery owner George Ball will be selling the property through Sheldon Good & Co., a division of Racebrook Marketing Concepts.

The 15-acre piece of land includes the home and garden of nursery founders Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones, greenhouse facilities and a multi-purpose office and warehouse building, according to the auction website.

Heronswood Nursery houses 14,000 rare plants, shrubs and trees from all over the world, and was well-known for its contributions to the horticulture community, according to The Seattle Times.

Ball paid $5.5 million for the original property and adjacent piece of land in 2000 and 2001, and the asking price has been as high as $11 million. In 2003, Ball offered to return the property to the founders for $2.5 million, but there was no interest. The nursery was closed in 2006, and the retail operations were moved to the company headquarters in Pennsylvania.

The auction bidding will start at $749,000. Bids are due by 2 p.m. June 15.

Prospective buyers can see the property by appointments at 1 p.m. on May 18 and 26, and June 1 and 9. For more information, call the project manager at 800-962-0931 or visit HeronswoodAuction.com.