Virginia Woman Grows 400-Rose Garden From Grandmother's Gift

Katy Banks' flourishing Arlington garden started with a single bucket of blooms.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Katy Banks, an Arlington, Virginia resident, has cultivated a thriving garden of over 400 rosebushes that can be traced back to a single bucket of blooms gifted to her by her grandmother. What started as a small endeavor has blossomed into a sprawling rose garden that Banks now opens up to over 200 visitors each year, sharing her passion for roses and the family connection they represent.

Why it matters

Banks' story highlights the power of family traditions and how a simple gift can inspire a lifelong passion. Her rose garden has become a source of joy and connection, not just for Banks but for the community she shares it with each year. It' s a testament to the enduring appeal of gardening and the ability of a single plant to blossom into something much greater.

The details

After receiving the initial bucket of roses from her grandmother, Banks planted her first climbing rose bush along the gate of her first home. From there, her rose collection grew steadily over the decades, culminating in the 400-plus rosebushes that now fill the backyard of her 1940s stone house. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Banks spent even more time tending to her garden, which became a true oasis for her. Eager to share its beauty, she now opens up her garden to over 200 visitors annually, allowing others to experience the joy and connection the roses provide.

  • Banks received the initial bucket of roses from her grandmother decades ago.
  • Banks planted her first climbing rose bush when she and her husband bought their first home together.
  • Banks has been cultivating her rose garden at her current 1940s stone house for the past two decades.
  • Banks' rose garden has grown significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she spent more time tending to it.
  • Banks now opens up her rose garden to over 200 visitors each year, typically around Mother's Day.

The players

Katy Banks

A resident of Arlington, Virginia who has cultivated a thriving garden of over 400 rosebushes, tracing its origins back to a single bucket of blooms gifted to her by her grandmother.

Carol

Katy Banks' 85-year-old mother, who joins her for weekly "Weeding Wednesdays" on the property.

Katy Banks' grandmother

The first in Katy Banks' family's three generations of rose growers, who gifted Katy the initial bucket of blooms that inspired her lifelong passion for roses.

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What they’re saying

“It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. It felt really luxurious and decadent to have all of these fragrant flowers. To this day, I still cut buckets of them to pay it forward just because it was so special to me.”

— Katy Banks (southernliving.com)

“It's wonderful because it's a great way for me and my mom to spend time together.”

— Katy Banks (southernliving.com)

What’s next

Each spring, Banks eagerly awaits the blooming of her rose garden, which she opens up to visitors around Mother's Day to share the beauty and family connection the flowers represent.

The takeaway

Katy Banks' story demonstrates the enduring power of a simple gift and how it can inspire a lifelong passion. Her thriving rose garden has become a source of joy, connection, and community, proving that when you find something you love, it has the ability to make others happy as well.