Van Hoosen Farm & Rochester Garden Club present the 2023 Rochester Garden Walk

The Stoney Creek Village is celebrating its 200th anniversary and the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm has big plans. This year, the 23rd annual Rochester Garden Walk is incorporating a walk through gardens in the historic community. These charming homes are original to the area and their mature trees and gardens are a marvel. In addition to these gardens, there will be lovely private and public gardens open to walkers throughout the Rochester area. This event is co-sponsored by the Rochester Garden Club and The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. This year’s event takes place Thursday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, guests can visit the Rochester Hills Museum grounds, which are located at the historic Van Hoosen Farm homestead. Participants will be able to stroll through several of the Museum’s buildings and exhibition spaces, as well as the historic plantings surrounding the Van Hoosen Farmhouse. Be sure to visit the Children’s Garden, a beautiful garden maintained by the Rochester Garden Club and loaded with hands-on activities to keep the little ones amused. Walkers looking for affordable garden treasures can stop by the “Fleatique” market in the Calf Barn which will be chock-full of gently used garden art, tools and other garden delights.

The Rochester Garden Club will also host a Native Plant Sale on the museum grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We work with a local grower, East Michigan Native Plants, to offer a wide variety of Michigan native plants and shrubs. These plant species have evolved in harmony with the local climate, geology and other flora and fauna and when added to the landscape will help preserve and enhance our biodiversity. To preorder, go to www.RochesterGardenClub.org. Customers DO NOT have to purchase tickets to the Garden Walk to purchase these plants.

At 11 a.m. John Gaydos from Proven Winners will present an entertaining and informative program titled A Plants’ Journey. This talk will explain how novel and beautiful bedding plants make their way across the world into your garden. Door prizes will be awarded during the program which is free to garden walk ticket holders.

Another favorite stop is the Cookie Room located in the renovated Dairy Barn. Garden club members will welcome guests to refresh themselves with complimentary cookies and lemonade. Club members prepare their favorite summer cookie recipes for this event, so plan to sample a variety of delicious cookies.

Receipts from this wonderful day will benefit two long-standing Rochester organizations. The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and the Rochester Garden Club use profits from the walk to help fund many of their charitable activities. It is a great day for a great cause.

Advance purchase tickets will be available from May 22 through noon on June 14 from the Museum website, www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms and from Auburn Oaks Garden Center, Bordine’s Nursery (Rochester location only), Foglers Greenhouse, and Piechnik’s Garden Gate. Cost is $15 in advance or $18 on the day of the event.

Ticket exchange (and purchase of) Garden Guides with the garden locations will be available at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills 48306 beginning on June 12. Hours for purchase and exchange are from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and all day Thursday. For more information, visit RochesterGardenClub.org or call 248-656-4663.