On the Banks of Paint Creek, One Couple's Paradise is Found

John and Pat Wireman call their Rochester Hills home paradise.

And when you walk the grounds of the 2.5-acre lot on the shores of the Paint Creek, it's easy enough to get caught up in the magic. 

The Wiremans — John a mircobiologist and Pat a retired teacher — built their Euro-country-inspired home in 2002. It features a fruit orchard, an arbor made from reclaimed barn beams, an herb garden that John relies on for cooking and a unique two-story conservatory with an indoor pond surrounded by tropical flowers.

This week, they'll show off these features and more when their home becomes a showpiece for the 2012 Rochester Garden Walk.

The walk

The Garden Walk is co-hosted by the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and the Rochester Brand of the Women's National Farm and Garden Association.

The walk is intended to show off the unique private gardens around the community; homes in Rochester and Rochester Hills will be on display. 

The home's addresses are kept a secret; when you buy a ticket to the garden walk, you'll receive a map with addresses for the homes. 

Here are the details:

• When/where: You can visit the homes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The homes can be visited in any order.
• Cost: Advance tickets are $10 for museum members and $12 for the general public. On the day of the walk tickets (which can then be purchased in person at the museum) are $14. 
• An outdoor garden market: On the day of the Garden Walk, the museum grounds will be turned into an Open Aire Market. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. there will be vendors and presentations. 
• Preview party: The official Garden Tour preview party is at the Wireman's home from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $30 a person and $50 a couple and include admission to the Garden Walk the next day.  
• Where to buy: Buy tickets for the preview party or the Garden Walk at www.rochesterhills.org.
• For more info: Call 248-656-4663.