Noles Nursery

For nearly five decades, it’s provided a large selection of trees to beautify customers’ yards. But you may not even know it exists.

Noles Nursery, located at 1915 East 6400 South in Murray, has been in business since 1963. Among other things, it sells quaking aspens, spruce and perennials. Some customers have said it’s Salt Lake Valley’s best-kept secret. But Nolan Whalen, who started the nursery 48 years ago, wants the secret to be more well-known.

“If more people knew about it, it would be a dynamite business,” he says.

Nolan’s daughter-in-law Jeanette Whalen, along with her husband Steve Whalen (Nolan’s son), took over ownership of the nursery in 1995. She says business is generally good, though the poor economy has affected the nursery as well. She echoes Nolan’s sentiments that if more prospective customers were aware of the nursery, business would boom and the customers themselves wouldn’t go anywhere else to landscape their yards with trees.

Nolan is still involved with the nursery, handling, among other tasks, deliveries and plantings. He said the nursery’s beautiful ambiance and personal touch make it unique.

“A lot of what sets us apart [from the competition] is the atmosphere and the personal service we provide,” he says. “People refer to us as ‘The Garden of Eden.’ We’re family owned. The nursery stock looks nice.”

One big difference between Noles Nursery and other nurseries is that Jeanette, Steve and Nolan personally select many of the trees by hand, rather than have them delivered. The Whalens take trips to the forests of Idaho and Oregon to find the perfect trees.

“Sometimes we find such nice ones that we want to keep them ourselves,” Jeanette says.

All three Whalens live on the nursery’s property, which Jeanette describes as “beautiful.”

One of the most popular trees Noles Nursery carries is the Japanese maple. Jeanette says the nursery carries “a ton” of varieties of the trees, much to the delight of customers. Noles Nursery will also deliver, plant and install your trees. They will even help you design your tree planting in your yard.

Both Jeanette and Nolan have received positive feedback from customers.

“Our customers say they can’t wait to tell their friends about us,” Nolan says. “They say they’ve never seen a place like it.”

“No one can help them like we do,” Jeanette says. “Customers tell us no one knows what they’re talking about like us.”

Of course, being passionate about what they do and having such a love of trees and plants has helped Jeanette and Nolan deliver such a high level of customer service and quality.

“I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do,” Jeanette says. “I love helping people. I get excited when people get excited about their yard. I love trees and plants.”

“I look forward to getting out to see the plants,” Nolan says. “It’s exciting to walk out and see beautiful stuff. It’s enjoyable to work with family and to deliver good service and quality products.”

Noles Nursery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. For more information, call 801-278-1237.