Austin Graf’s early gardening experiences were all about practicality. "I was never around many roses growing up," he recalls. "My family were avid gardeners, but it was in the ‘put food on the table’ sort of way." His passion for gardening came straight from his mother, who, as a stay-at-home mom of four, taught him the essentials. "Her priority was teaching me to grow and can green beans– a task I still hate more than anything in the world." Even though they were focused on necessity rather than joy, those early lessons shaped his love for gardening. 

It wasn’t until his early teens that Austin had any real interaction with a rose plant. His family had purchased a small farm with an old 1940s farmhouse. "The house came with this old climbing rose," Austin recalls. "Nothing fancy, but my parents kept it." He didn’t pay much attention to it, but one day, while mowing the lawn, the rose bush caught his shoulder, leaving a scar. "That’s when I started noticing roses—for better or for worse!" he laughs.

Now, 15 years later, Austin owns that little farmhouse, and the rose bush has become a symbol of resilience. "It’s probably the most beautiful it’s ever been," he says. His relationship with roses, though, wasn’t love at first sight. "Roses always felt unapproachable to me. They’re so formal, so elegant—and if you know me, I’m none of that! I’m more like a little ball of chaos at a formal party."

But something changed one day while walking through the woods on his farm. "I stumbled across a wild rose bush. It was pure chaos, just like me, and the fragrance—it was incredible. That moment started my journey with roses."

Today, Austin’s garden is a whimsical mix of plants, with fragrant roses sprinkled throughout. "Every rose in my garden is fragrant," he says. "I’m trying to recreate that moment when I found those wild roses in the woods—the sweetness in the air, the sense of discovery. I want that magic in my yard."

One of his favorite roses is Peach Swirl, a vibrant mix of orange, pink, and yellow striped petals. "It’s wonky, it’s stunning, and the fragrance can attract people from 20 yards away," Austin says. "And its vigor? I couldn’t ask for more!"

Gardening in Tennessee (zone 7b) comes with its challenges. "Black spot is a nightmare in this climate," he explains. "We get the rain of a deciduous rainforest but all the heat of Tennessee. The key is staying ahead of it with a fungicide regimen and making sure there’s plenty of airflow around the plants."

Austin finds simple joy in every new bloom. "The second I see a new rose bloom, I run over to smell it. It’s my reminder to slow down and enjoy the little things."

Balancing a full-time marketing career, two businesses, and a busy personal life, Austin treasures the moments he gets to spend in the garden. "It’s cheesy to say, but taking time to smell the roses really does help me slow down and breathe. Gardening is my way to practice self-care—it’s my reminder to enjoy everything I’m working towards."

When it comes to garden design, Austin embraces the unexpected and encourages others to do the same. "Gardens should make you happy. Gardens should inspire joy. So if a neat, formal garden is what inspires you and makes you happy? Go for it! If it’s all the random roses in different color palettes planted haphazardly around the yard? Go for it!"

Austin is a firm believer that garden design should be flexible and grow with you. "Your garden tastes will wax and wane just like interior design trends, so it’s perfectly okay to rip things out, move things around, and find what works as your garden evolves and grows."

His final piece of advice? "Start with quality roses. So many people grab clearance roses from big box stores, not realizing they’re bringing home ten diseases for every dollar saved. It’s just not worth it. Invest in better plants like the ones from Heirloom Roses, and your garden will thank you."

And when it comes to pruning, Austin adds, "Stop trying to prune your roses for shape in the first year. Let them grow wild! Focus on building strong, healthy roots, and shape them later. For now, just let them be."

For Austin Graf, gardening isn’t about perfection—it’s about finding beauty in the chaos, joy in the journey, and choosing plants that create a magic space that you love to come home to.