Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

It had rained all morning, so we briefly considered skipping the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. We decided to go for it anyway, since we were in the area and had the time. Good luck was with us - the rain stopped a few minutes before we arrived.

The Gardens were much larger than we expected, covering more than 300 acres. Most of it was forested land, bordering a tidal river. I was delighted to learn that the Gardens were the home of FIVE Thomas Dambo trolls! Dambo is a Danish artist who makes giant trolls from recycled materials and hides them in the woods. I’d been hoping to see one of his trolls, so the chance to see five in one place was the best kind of surprise.

We walked across a bridge and found our first troll, and it truly was giant - nearly 30 feet tall! We decided to look for the rest of the trolls and set out on a “Troll Stroll” through the forest. It was a lovely walk, with peaceful surroundings, well-maintained trails, and pretty views around every turn. It was cool and misty, and the forest felt magical, and a bit mysterious. Finding each troll brought a small rush of pleasure at the discovery, followed by awe at how something so wonderful could be created from stuff that had been thrown away.

You can do your own mini-Troll Stroll below - just click through the photos to find the trolls. To learn more about each troll, view this post on a computer and hover over an image to see the caption.

View from the Overlook Bridge

ROSKVA stands for the TRUNK of the tree.

Roskva is the heaviest, hardest, and strongest of the trolls. Every day, Roskva climbs toward the sky, and every year she grows taller and wider. If a troll forgets something, they can always ask Roskva - she counts the seasons and remembers everything that happens around her.

Footbridge along the trail

SØREN sticks up for the BRANCHES of the tree.

Søren is a very curious troll; his head is always turning and twisting, searching for places ever higher. He dreams about drifting around on a cloud in the sky, and when the wind is blowing, he loves to celebrate with a dance.

Waterfall

Giles Rhododendron and Perennial Garden

Pond

Giles Rhododendron and Perennial Garden

GRO smiles with the LEAVES of the tree.

Gro is the wanderer. Every fall she disappears, but the trolls are not worried because every spring she returns to the forest. On her return, Gro walks around to make sure every friend of hers is fed. After hurrying to catch a few sunbeams and a handful of raindrops, she creates a feast for the forest.

Back River

Reflected Heron on shore of Back River

Fairy Village

Fairy house at Fairy Village

BIRK holds the ROOTS of the tree.

Birk is the wisest and most mysterious of the trolls. He hides in the shadows and listens to the whispers of the soil. He knows everything that happens in the wild, and every day he tells tales to all the other creatures of the forest.

Art along the path

LILJA holds the scent of the FLOWERS of the tree.

Just last summer, Lilja came out from her hiding place. The youngest of the trolls, she's still just a child. She loves the colors and the scents of the flowers and when bees and butterflies fly among branches.

Music along the path

Leaving the woods and entering the gardens

After our Troll Stroll, we wandered through the delightful children’s garden and a few of the other gardens surrounding the Great Lawn. It was nearly the end of summer, and many blooms were past their peak, but the gardens were still colorful. Each garden was beautiful, and interesting, and completely different from the others. I wanted to live there.

It was time to move on, and yet we’d hiked only half the trails and seen half the gardens! Later, I learned that the troll’s secret treasure was hidden in the woods on the far side of the Gardens from where we had hiked. I hope we’ll be able to return one day to explore the rest of this beautiful place and find that treasure.

Admission to the Gardens is free with membership in another AHS garden.

Thomas Dambo has created more than 100 giant trolls around the world. He mobilizes volunteers to help construct them from discarded items and scrap wood. He wants to surprise people with the beauty that can be created from trash. To find a troll near you, visit the Trollmap. To learn more about Dambo and his work, visit his website or read this recent feature article.