For Jenna Meadows Prihoda, growing roses is more than just a hobby—it's a deeply rooted family tradition that brings beauty, hope, and a sense of connection to nature. As the owner of Meadows Flower Farm in Avon, Indiana, Jenna has made it her mission to share her passion for locally grown blooms, especially roses, with her community.

“I have only been growing roses since 2022,” Jenna admits, “but it was so special for me to grow up with grandparents who taught me all about the joy of tending a garden. My grandma’s rose garden inspired my mom’s rose garden, which in turn inspired me to start growing roses!”

From her early days learning the art of gardening from her grandparents (her grandpa focusing on vegetables and her grandma on flowers) to her current work at her thriving flower farm, Jenna’s love for flowers has blossomed into a lifelong pursuit. She shares her beautiful journey on her Instagram page @meadowsflowerfarm.

Jenna began gardening during a challenging time in her young adult life. “I went through some health challenges, and one thing that offered me so much respite during that period was planning my own garden. I knew that once I had the ability to take care of a garden, it would be a gift I would never take for granted.” This passion led to the creation of Meadows Flower Farm in 2020, where she grows a wide variety of specialty-cut flowers alongside her beloved roses.

Jenna was initially apprehensive about growing roses. “I was pretty nervous to start growing roses. I had assumed they were above my skill level! Thankfully, this has not been the case. I feel everyone can enjoy growing roses, no matter your garden expertise or years of experience, if you are up for following a few steps and doing a bit of tending.” To help others overcome similar hesitations, Jenna shared her six rose care tips for beginners:

Jenna’s Six Rose Care Tips to Get Started:

1. Pick disease-resistant varieties for your first roses.
2. Plant in full sun in well-draining soil, adding well-aged compost and worm castings. Keep your roses well mulched.
3. Water regularly and deadhead roses consistently throughout the summer to promote more blooms.
4. Fertilize monthly with fish fertilizer during the first growing season (like Founders Fish Fertilizer). In subsequent seasons, switch to stronger granular fertilizers (like Heirloom’s Own Boost and Bloom) every two months, stopping about a month and a half before your first fall frost.
5. If you’re in Zone 6 or colder, offer your roses some winter root protection by placing a mound of compost around the base of the rose. Remove this mound in the spring as temperatures warm up.
6. Prune in late winter or early spring when your roses have started growing again and the threat of heavy freezes has passed.

One of Jenna’s favorite varieties is Mother of Pearl, which produces masses of pretty blooms throughout the growing season. “The peachy pink color is so lovely! She blooms more than any of my other roses.” Jenna also adores Loves Me, Loves Me Not, which she says has “huge blooms absolutely stuffed with petals (200+), and it smells heavenly!”

Jenna’s roses are mostly grown in rows, a practice that aligns with her love for cutting blooms for bouquets. “I find this sets me up well for how I enjoy my roses the most—cutting them to share in bouquets! Growing in rows like this also lets me take care of them efficiently. I can fertilize, deadhead, etc., all together at once by walking down the row.” She also has fun planting companions alongside her roses, adding nasturtiums to the rows and coral bells in her landscaping. “Nasturtium flowers block out weeds, are easy and cheap to grow from seed, and flower all summer long with adorable lily pad-like leaves. Coral bells come in every shade of greens and purples you can imagine! I especially love how the purple varieties pop against the green foliage of my roses.”

Beyond the blooms, Jenna sees roses as symbols of hope. “I believe flowers are a visual representation of hope, something we all need to get through each day in a world that can be really hard. I have seen over and over again that it seems like roses have an extra dose of this healing and happy power.” Through her flower farm, bouquet subscriptions, and educational Instagram posts, Jenna shares this hope and inspires others to find joy in growing their own.