Lead Gardener

Lead Gardener

Antique Rose Emporium | Independence, Texas
Full-Time | On-Site

Do you love beautiful gardens, working outdoors, and turning horticultural knowledge into something visitors can experience?

Antique Rose Emporium is seeking an experienced Lead Gardener to help care for and maintain our eight-plus-acre display gardens and grounds in Independence, Texas. This is a hands-on working-lead position for someone who enjoys being in the garden while also helping organize, train, and guide a small gardening team.

The right person will have strong practical horticulture skills, take pride in creating beautiful and well-maintained landscapes, and enjoy working with roses and a diverse collection of plant material.

As Lead Gardener, you will help lead the day-to-day care and presentation of the Antique Rose Emporium gardens and grounds.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide hands-on care and maintenance of our display gardens and grounds.
• Help keep gardens beautiful, safe, and visitor-ready throughout the year.
• Assign daily tasks and garden-area priorities to the Gardener team.
• Train and demonstrate proper gardening techniques to other team members.
• Prune and train roses, including climbing roses and heritage varieties.
• Plant, mulch, weed, maintain pathways, and assist with lawn and grounds care.
• Monitor plants for pest, disease, water, and environmental stress.
• Operate existing sprinkler systems and assist with hand watering and irrigation needs.
• Help maintain mother plants, heritage roses, and other important plant collections.
• Assist with seasonal garden planning to achieve peak bloom and presentation for major events.
• Prepare garden and venue landscape areas for weddings, festivals, educational programs, and other special events.
• Help identify and address safety concerns throughout public garden areas.
• Assist with storm cleanup, freeze protection, and seasonal weather preparation.

This is a working position. The Lead Gardener will spend a significant amount of time outdoors actively gardening alongside the team.

• 3+ years of hands-on gardening, landscape, nursery, or related horticulture experience.
• Strong practical knowledge of plant care and seasonal garden maintenance.
• Experience training, mentoring, or directing the daily work of others is preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate and explain gardening techniques clearly.
• Basic understanding of sprinkler system operation and troubleshooting.
• Strong attention to detail and pride in maintaining beautiful public spaces.
• Dependable, safety-conscious, and comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
• Comfortable working outdoors in Texas weather.
• Ability to perform physical work and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and work in garden areas for extended periods.
• English/Spanish bilingual skills are a plus.
• Formal horticulture education is not required; horticulture, landscape management, Master Gardener, or related coursework/certification is a plus.

Located in historic Independence, Texas, Antique Rose Emporium is a destination garden center, nursery, and display garden known for roses and beautiful garden experiences.

Our mission is to educate and inspire people through horticulture, gardening, and, of course, roses. We believe in excellent communication, teamwork, education, respect, integrity, and creating an exceptional experience for our customers and community.

• Would rather spend your day in a garden than behind a desk.
• Notice when a plant is struggling - and want to figure out why.
• Know that great gardens require planning, consistency, and attention to detail.
• Enjoy teaching others what you know.
• Take satisfaction in seeing a garden transformed by the work you and your team have done.
• Want the opportunity to work with an extensive collection of roses and established display gardens.

Antique Rose Emporium is an Equal Opportunity Employer.