Stroll With the Giant Trolls Guarding This Maine Treasure

It's hard to imagine a wooden structure that actually looks like people or animals, but at this Maine garden, that's exactly what you are challenged to find.

There are five incredible giant trolls guarding the pathways to the gardens and hiking trails at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine.

The art installation is the mastermind of Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who travels around the world and creates these giant trolls from repurposed wood, including pallets, trees, and other recycled woods.  His mission as an artist and activist is to save the world from drowning in trash.

Dambo has over 100 trolls all over the world, including China, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.  There are many trolls in the USA, so if you want to look at where the trolls are, follow trollmap.com.

It's fascinating to follow the troll journey, and wonderful to know that five of them are in Maine.

How do you find the "Guardians of the Seeds"?  Just go to the botanical gardens and pay your general admission of $24.  There is no extra fee, but it is an arduous course to get to all five trolls.

The first two are easy, but after that, following the trails can be precarious, as some of the trails are not groomed.  Hiking shoes are advised.

These Coastal Maine Botanical Garden is open May 1 through October 20, 2024, and the trolls are a permanent installation.  You can see them in the winter too during the "Gardens Aglow" holiday light display throughout the gardens.

It's a beautiful way to see the woodlands and take part in nature.