Teatime at the South’s exclusive European rose farm
Text by Shelby Duffy • Photography Courtesy of Life in Rose Farm
Whenever life feels especially overwhelming, it is said that it’s important to stop and smell the roses, and Theresa Pham and her husband, Shaw Nguyen, founders of Life in Rose Farm, took that literally. In September 2020, they chose to leave the hustle and bustle of Houston, Texas, amid growing COVID-19 concerns and a slowdown in their house-flipping business. Although Theresa was initially hesitant to leave her home in the city, she was persuaded when her husband promised that she could plant roses at their new place. Growing up with a deep-seated love for the beauty of European roses, with their dense petals and tantalizing fragrance, she made the decision to set down roots (both metaphorically and literally) and work toward cultivating a more meaningful life for her and her family.
With no prior agricultural experience, Theresa and Shaw had their work cut out for them after purchasing an old farm in Magnolia, Texas. However, they were up for the challenge, drawing on their past experiences of diving headfirst into new business ventures for much of their professional lives. (After struggling with fertility issues while working at a corporate job, Theresa knew she wanted a more creative and fulfilling life beyond weekend DIY projects, and shortly after her first pregnancy, she launched a mommy-and-me fashion collection.) They used their prior knowledge and skills in flipping houses to help transform their new purchase into a thriving rose farm.
However, even after extensive research, Theresa and Shaw couldn’t have predicted the curveballs that Mother Nature would send their way the first year of farming. Just a few short months into planting, Magnolia, Texas—which the USDA categorizes as a 9a hardiness zone with very warm summers and mild winters—was hit with the first large snowstorm in 20 years. The family spent three days hauling hundreds of plants into their barn, covered them with blankets, and used space heaters to preserve the fragile sprouts, then moved the plants back outside three days later. The following summer, Texas faced a terrible drought, yet through these challenges, the farm blossomed from a modest 200 plants to their current count of more than 6,000.
Although Life in Rose Farm initially began with the intention to sell only cut roses, the business slowly transformed due to evolving demands. Visiting customers often requested to hold events on the picturesque grounds, and social media further amplified interest in the location. They began with photography bookings and private events and parties, including bridal showers and intimate weddings, where they also sold bare-root rose plants to allow visitors to take a piece of the farm home and cultivate their own breathtaking blooms. Seeking an even more encompassing experience, Theresa drew inspiration from her beautiful European flowers, envisioning classic French and British afternoon teas held in an idyllic garden. After researching, taste testing, and guest surveying, they settled on a full tea service menu, featuring scones, three savory options, three sweets, and a selection of popular teas imported from around the world.
Afternoon tea events are held in the farm’s striking glass house, nestled among towering pine trees and dense rows of blossoming rose bushes as far as the eye can see. Participants enjoy the unique experience of gathering around a rustic table, brimming with delectable fare and delicately fragrant fresh flowers bathed in comforting sunlight and surrounded by an enchantingly verdant backdrop. Once guests have savored copious cups of tea and delightful company, they are invited to partake in the farm’s signature rose bar, where each person selects a variety of roses to arrange and take home with them as a customized and personal souvenir.
For Life in Rose Farm, what initially began as a change of pace for Theresa and her family eventually led to the creation of a beloved establishment that allowed her to create a grounding and meaningful environment to raise her two daughters, and an inspiring and welcoming setting for patrons, from both near and far, to visit. Acknowledging the looming presence of a variety of unknown risks, Theresa explains, “All we needed was an inkling of hope,” and thus a beautiful new life was sowed.
To accommodate the uncomfortably warm and humid summers of Texas, afternoon teas are only offered during select months, including the early months of winter and mid to late spring. Holidays like Mother’s Day are a wonderful pretext to celebrate with a tea party amid the roses. Visit lifeinrosefarm.com for more information, to book tickets to an upcoming event, or to browse their selection of bare-root roses available for purchase.
