TEMPLE – Cedar posts, some straight, some curved lead the way through a walking garden in the front yard of the Town Office.

Residents have been coming forward since late April to add their own touches to celebrate Temple’s history.

Birdhouses constructed of hollowed logs or planed wood pieces sit atop posts throughout the peaceful setting. Annuals and perennial flowers have been planted. Vegetables and herbs, too. Maine pine and fir saplings were planted with hopes to educate youngsters. An old wheel, weathered fence pieces and large tree stumps take visitors back to another time. A grapevine arbor with its twined branches has a honeysuckle on one side and clematis on the other. A slab of wood sawed so the grain is featured rests nearby.

Stumps create seats at the end of paths for people to sit and enjoy the beauty. A rock wall built by the Temple Girl Scouts is highlighted by colorful blossoms in it.

Members of Temple Historic Society built the garden around the veterans’ memorial monument and flag pole.

Hand-forged metal information stands made by Hervy Anderson will be installed to give data on plants, trees and other items.

The cedar-lined paths lead one to the group’s masterpiece: a rusty 1919 Caterpillar grader.

It was the first grader the town had, said Barbara Hodgkins, a society member.

Hodgkins and her husband, Bill, and Alicia Carroll and Frank O’Donnell were working under the beating sun last week.

Temple’s bicentennial is this summer, Barbara Hodgkins said, and the historical society’s 1800s little red school house, the fifth oldest in the state, is not suitable now to hold a function during the August celebration.

So the group decided to do something at the Town Office for all to enjoy.

The plot was entirely grassy before Bruce Abvrinse rototilled the area for the garden.

Hodgkins and Carroll designed how they wanted it.

“I think we had a spirit for why we wanted it and how we wanted it so people and children could enjoy it,” Hodgkins said. “I think it’s a happy place.”

The garden also includes calming shapes, such as a triangle, to signify peace.

Carroll and Hodgkins had wanted an old piece of equipment and found one behind the trees on town land. They received permission from selectmen to move it to the garden area.

“We thought it was a cool piece,” Hodgkins said.

Hodgkins plans to bring some of her stone sculptures to the garden.

The creative juices didn’t stop there. The group dressed up the front of the hall with a trellis and planted herbs such as oregano, parsley and chives. They even gathered moose droppings to put in a pile so that children could learn about the animal.

Temple residents will celebrate the town’s June 1803 incorporation Aug. 15, 16 and 17.

The hardest thing for the gardeners so far has been the hot sun “frying” the plantings, Hodgkins said.

“We wanted the walking garden because we want it to be an educational garden,” Hodgkins said. “Our dream is when people rent the town hall for functions … they’ll have a nice place to take photos.”

dperry@sunjournal.com

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