A new sculpture garden called Lush Places has officially welcomed its first exhibits - a collection of vintage plywood sheep cutouts that have served as decorations for local events in Masterton, New Zealand for decades. The whimsical sculptures, described as looking like they were "created by some nut who constructed them in his man cave while soused," mark the beginning of what the owners hope will become a major tourist attraction.

The sheep were acquired through an online auction of items stored in Masterton's derelict Town Hall, which is scheduled for demolition. Michele Hewitson and her partner Greg engaged in what Hewitson described as a "fierce online battle" to win the historical artifacts. Many of the sheep show their age, with some missing feet and one sporting a grubby bandana, but they represent decades of local history as window decorations during the annual Golden Shears competition and Christmas celebrations.

The auction pickup proved more challenging than expected when Greg also won two vintage photographs of old Masterton - one of Queen Street from 1875 and another showing a mail coach outside the Club Hotel. The Queen Street photograph turned out to be much larger than anticipated and wouldn't fit in their car. Fortunately, another couple picking up furniture from the same auction offered to deliver the oversized photograph, though they experienced their own mishap when a leg fell off their 1875-era furniture piece during transport.

The week continued with a second unusual trip to town to visit what Hewitson suspects is a subversive-run second-hand bookstore. They were searching for a vintage blanket for an upcoming birthday when they discovered the store's "naughty corner" - a hidden alcove containing an extensive collection of erotica donated by a deceased local community pillar. The bookstore owner explained that the Red Cross had passed along the collection because they couldn't sell such materials themselves.

The week's adventures culminated with birthday celebrations that included some unexpected gifts from the household cats. The birthday morning began with the discovery of a dead mouse in the hall, which Greg humorously described as the cats having "had a whip-around" to contribute to the celebration. This followed an earlier morning discovery of a dead rat beside the bed, suggesting the feline residents were particularly active in their hunting efforts.

The grand opening of the Lush Places Sculpture Park was scheduled for the following Sunday, generating what Hewitson called "vast excitement." However, the inaugural day was dampened by rain, adding an appropriately dramatic touch to the launch of this unconventional rural attraction. The creators remain optimistic that their "money-spinning scheme" featuring the rescued plywood sheep will draw visitors to experience this unique blend of local history and quirky outdoor art.