Imagine stepping into a real-world fairy tale. Suddenly, your next grand adventure waits hidden among the mossy paths of Boothbay, where the enchanting Thomas Dambo trolls Maine exhibit adds a magical touch. Because of this magical setup, you can experience something that will stick with you forever.
Consequently, you should come visit us during the regular season. Our team focuses heavily on the rich history of Maine’s deep woods. Furthermore, we teach guests about modern forest sustainability.
To bring this vision to life, famed Danish artist Thomas Dambo created a massive surprise for our visitors. His magical, mysterious, giant recycled-wood troll sculptures anchor our entire forest conservation effort. Ultimately, these gentle giants will help you discover completely new ways to lose yourself in nature. In turn, you will also find your true self among the quiet trees.
Plan Your Epic Troll Hunt
Exploring the Guardians of the Seeds by Thomas Dambo is an exciting part of the modern garden experience. For your convenience, this world-class exhibit is fully included with your regular admission ticket.
However, you must secure your tickets online before you arrive at the gate. As soon as you check in, grab our official Trolls Map & Guide at the front visitor desk. This handy map will guide your search through the dense pine trees.
[ Visitor Center ]
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[ Short Trails ] [ Deep Woods Trails ]
(1-2 Trolls: 45 min) (5 Trolls + Seeds: 4-5 hours)
Naturally, this special outdoor experience requires a true hike in the wild woods. Therefore, please come fully prepared for a real backcountry trek.
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Wear sturdy, comfortable hiking shoes.
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Pack plenty of fresh water.
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Bring your favorite bug spray.
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Apply strong sunblock before walking.
If you have young children in your family, we highly recommend using rugged hiking strollers or sturdy child carriers. This is because standard plastic strollers simply cannot handle our rocky, root-filled forest terrain.
Trekking Times to Keep in Mind
Meanwhile, the five friendly giants live deep within our native forest. For this reason, you should not expect to see every single giant during a brief visit. Some sculptures require extensive walking, so you must plan your afternoon carefully.
| Number of Trolls | Estimated Hiking Time | Perfect For |
| 1-2 Trolls | 45 Minutes | Quick walks and families with toddlers |
| 3 Trolls | 90 Minutes | Moderate explorers wanting a good loop |
| 5 Trolls | 2.5 – 3 Hours | Full forest immersion across main paths |
| 5 Trolls + Seeds | 4 – 5 Hours | The ultimate challenge for dedicated hikers |
The Epic Lore of the Forest Giants
Thomas Dambo is globally recognized as a leading master of recycled-materials art. Indeed, his breathtaking public art pieces are staggering to behold in person. Each massive sculpture simultaneously invites eager seekers into the beautiful woodlands. In addition, they clearly tell a vital story of global conservation.
“The project becomes an open-ended fuse that initiates wonder.”
— Thomas Dambo
His inspiring words encourage people to view our fragile natural world through a whimsical lens. To achieve this, Dambo builds exclusively with clean, discarded scrap materials. This choice reinforces the massive value of using old items to build something beautiful. Similarly, the building process unites passionate community volunteers from diverse backgrounds.
[ Discarded Wood Scraps ] ───► [ Local Community Volunteers ]
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[ Global Giant Trolls ]
Regarding his background, Thomas Dambo was born in Odense, Denmark. He now lives and creates his famous public art in Copenhagen. Notably, he has been building with scrap wood since the young age of five. Today, he is a fast-growing personality in the Scandinavian art world.
As a child, he scavenged his neighborhood for discarded wooden pallets. Then, he hauled the treasures home using his small bicycle. This childhood love for hunting treasure clearly foreshadowed his current global troll hunts.
As a result, the self-labeled “recycle art activist” creates true magic. His giant creations remain top-tier attractions across Denmark. Moreover, you can also spot his whimsical creations across the wider globe. They tell an important story of modern sustainability. At the same time, they highlight our deep global connection.
In short, Dambo is actively creating a friendly global village, one recycled giant at a time. He truly believes beauty exists anywhere. For example, you can find it easily in the unexplored corners of your own backyard.
Usually, his giant trolls are hidden from plain view. However, a diligent seeker can easily track them down. You just need to solve a clever riddle to uncover their secret locations.
Dambo started this global artistic journey back in 2014. He has since built dozens of giant wooden residents. Today, they live happily in public parks and green spaces worldwide. Our local sculptures belong to a vast global family. This community dots the globe from Florida to Chicago. It also spans from South Korea to China, Denmark, Puerto Rico, and Belgium.
You can explore his incredible interactive global map online at Trollmap.
Meet the Woodland Guardians
Each unique wooden sculpture represents a specific part of a living tree. Therefore, they tell a moving story about why every single branch is vital to the larger forest ecosystem.
┌─────────────── FOREST TREE ───────────────┐
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[ The Roots ] [ The Trunk ] [ The Leaves ]
Guards Soil Holds Strength Creates Oxygen
Specifically, the giant trolls fiercely guard their ten secret forest seeds. These hidden seeds are absolutely vital for preserving local biodiversity. Thus, they protect our wilderness for future generations of hikers.
However, these giant wooden teachers offer more than simple protection. They remind us that forests consist of deeply interconnected organisms. In other words, trees rely heavily on one another for long-term survival.
In fact, high species diversity benefits the trees themselves. It also supports thousands of native birds, mammals, insects, and amphibians. These wild creatures utilize the dense tree canopy for daily food and shelter.
Consequently, a high variety of tree species protects the forest from major modern threats. For instance, it helps the woods resist rising temperatures and invasive diseases.
A Warning from the Past
Unfortunately, we have lost two major tree species from our beautiful Maine woods already. The historic American chestnut and the lovely American elm are gone. Long ago, both trees were vital to local daily life. Early settlers planted them across historic homesteads for shade.
[ Historic Maine Woods ] ───► [ Blight & Disease Threats ] ───► [ Loss of Heritage ]
The mighty American chestnut easily stretched over 100 feet tall. Accordingly, people proudly called them the majestic “redwoods of the East.” They made up a quarter of our eastern forests before a terrible blight decimated them.
Likewise, our forested northern cities changed forever when Dutch elm disease swept the nation. When we lose native trees, we lose our deep connection to the historic landscape.
Sadly, modern science cannot always keep pace with these aggressive ecological threats. Today, our native hemlocks and ash trees face similar dangers.
What will the Maine woods look like for our grandchildren? Fortunately, our collective conservation actions today will decide that future.
Because these giant trolls enjoy incredibly long lives, they have an advantage. Their long view allows them to witness the harsh consequences of environmental destruction. Now, they want to help us save the earth.
However, the giants cannot accomplish this heavy work alone. Instead, they require active assistance from passionate people all over the world. Can you step up and help them protect the trees?
Your Adventure Starts Here
Finally, are you ready to join the hunt? The giant wood sculptures are waiting for you right now.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
105 Botanical Gardens Drive
Boothbay, Maine 04537
Phone: (207) 633-8000
Website: https://www.mainegardens.org
These friendly giants sit tucked away inside our native wooded properties. They are incredibly peaceful, but their environmental message is powerful.
So, come locate our hidden giants today. Uncover the timeless ecological lessons they share with visitors.
Eventually, you will put all the hidden clues together. Finally, you will solve the grand secret of the magical Guardians. This is your perfect chance to disconnect from modern screens. Come rediscover your deep, ancient connection to Mother Earth.
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