Northern Gardens of Cody, WY is in full bloom this May, showcasing all its splendor. For the last 31 years, this well-established Cody greenhouse and nursery has provided families and businesses in the community with countless healthy perennials, trees/shrubs, annual plants and veggies every year.

Pro Tip: If you want to plant new trees this year, don’t wait too much longer. Austin Reed, one of the new owners of Northern Gardens, recommends getting trees into the ground ideally before July 4th or before. Establishing trees and shrubs during the milder part of the growing season before summer heat kicks in will ensure a higher likeliness towards thriving. Austin relays what he loves most about this new process is the people they get to serve in the community! They encounter such a broad spectrum of customers, and they all come in happy and excited about the plants. He states, “It’s wonderful to be part of beautifying the town! Even on a rough day, if I manage to plant some trees, it still ends up being a good day.”

Exciting New Ownership

Austin and Elise Reed have been an established part of the Cody community for the last 10 years! It all began when Austin was attending school in Bozeman, studying engineering, when he met Elise, and they began dating. He wanted to work somewhere close enough to drive and see her on the weekends. He started looking for jobs and found a position with a local engineering company here in Cody. He had never been to Cody before, but took the job, and both he and Elise fell in love with the area.

Soon they got engaged, then married, and Elise moved down to Cody as well. Austin worked for many years as an engineer but soon realized he wanted to be out doing things rather than sitting at a desk. That’s when he switched to construction work for several seasons. During that time, he was introduced to Shannon, the accountant for Northern Gardens, and she thought he would be a great fit for ownership at Northern Gardens. She kept encouraging him to pursue it, and he eventually decided to talk to Rod and Kay Soulek to see where it might lead.

Later in August 2024 Austin came out to Northern Gardens and continued the conversation with them. From there, things progressed. The Soulek’s were ready for a change, and they found an amicable business solution for both parties. They ended up closing the deal on Northern Gardens on January 24th, 2025, and have been busy investing time learning the current business, introducing new ideas, and sowing their own resources into Northern Gardens ever since.

Community Connections

The greenhouse truly feels like a community hub to new owners Austin and Elise Reed. With a deep appreciation for the connections forged over the years, they are committed to maintaining all existing commercial contracts. For them, these relationships are not just business agreements; they represent the heart and soul of their thriving community.

Austin and Elise see the greenhouse as more than just a place to conduct business; it’s an essential part of the community fabric that they are eager to nurture and expand. As for staffing, they currently have 14 employees and recently added a few high schoolers to assist with labor, specifically with watering plants. It’s a group effort, and they’re really focused on getting everything done efficiently.

Regarding their offerings, Rod and Kay Soulek managed most of the plant, shrub, and tree orders last fall, and they have everything dialed in since they have been doing this for 31 years. So, they have all of the local favorites and more! Additionally, they kicked off the growing season with community events out at the greenhouse involving local collaborations and vendors such as, The Pig and The Hog Food Truck and Catering, Cody Craft Brewery, and Yoder’s Donuts. They anticipate events like these during each growing season.

Improvements Planned for the Future

A surprising number of younger or new people to Cody whom Austin and Elise have met this year do not know about Northern Gardens. They’re working hard to broaden their reach and let people know who and where they are. Building all the new pieces of the business will take time but this young family is determined to provide excellent customer care and service to the Cody area.

Additionally, Elise is now taking charge of the hard goods and decor side, aiming to infuse a fresh, younger aesthetic. They’re actively adding local products to their offerings. One such company is, Project Home DIY Towel Collective by Christine and Matt Goldt. More local hard goods vendors will be added in the coming year. Exciting updates are on the horizon from the remarkable Cody family and the enchanting Northern Gardens in the coming months. Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss what’s next!

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