McFaddin-Ward House Museum Lecture Series Presents “Preserving the Past, Cultivating the Future: The Antique Rose Emporium Journey” by Jim Keeter Jr.

Join the McFaddin-Ward House Museum for “Preserving the Past, Cultivating the Future: The Antique Rose Emporium Journey,” a free public lecture presented by Jim Keeter Jr. on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Visitor Center Lecture Hall (1906 Calder Avenue, Beaumont).

For the past 40 years, the Antique Rose Emporium, an eight-acre rose garden, nursery, gift shop, and popular tourist destination in historic Independence, Texas, has championed the charm and resilience of old garden roses. As a working rose breeding and growing operation, the Emporium’s story — shared by co-owner Jim Keeter Jr. — traces its rise from humble beginnings to national recognition and how its legacy inspires a bold, blooming future for roses and gardeners alike.

Keeter developed a lifelong love of plants and sustainable landscapes while earning his bachelor of science degree in range land ecology and management at Texas A&M University in 1983. His passion for plants has carried him through a rich career in ranch brokerage, landscape planning, and plant sourcing. Working first with his father’s firm and then building his own business, Keeter has learned every facet of horticulture and land design — from project management to creative planting strategies.

In 2022, Keeter and his wife Kim purchased the Antique Rose Emporium, where he now shares his passion for resilient roses and ecological gardens with thousands of visitors from across the country who come to explore the vibrant blooms, experience the artistry of horticulture, and feel connected to a legacy that has transcended generations.

McFaddin-Ward House Museum lectures are admission-free and open to the public, but space is limited. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, call 409-832-2134.

For those unable to attend, the full lecture will be available for viewing on the museum YouTube Channel (youtube.com/@mcfaddinwardhouse), Facebook (facebook.com/McFaddinWardHouse), and website (mcfaddin-ward.org/about/videos) after the event.