Permanent installation: Giant trolls make botanical gardens their forever home
Courtesy/Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
“The trolls tell a unique story of sustainability and protecting nature that is echoed in everything our organization stands for,” said Gretchen Ostherr, president and CEO of CMBG.
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The Guardians of the Seeds, perhaps better known as the five giant trolls, are now permanent residents of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.
The first of Thomas Dambo’s permanent installations in the U.S., the trolls are now part of a worldwide scavenger hunt to find the artist’s secret 100th troll.
“The trolls tell a unique story of sustainability and protecting nature that is echoed in everything our organization stands for,” said Gretchen Ostherr, president and CEO of CMBG in a Tuesday announcement. Ostherr added that Dambo chose CMBC "for its beautiful Maine landscape, sustainably minded programming, and overall connection to his mission of using recycled materials to create something new."
The troll-related news comes as the CMBG also announces that one of Maine’s most-visited attractions is open to more people than ever, as the Gardens for All program gears up for its second season and builds on the 3,700-plus people who visited through the program last year.
As one avenue, CMBG offers one-hour, docent-led accessible cart tours daily, rain or shine, from June 7 through Oct. 17. The electric vehicle can accommodate up to five people and seating preference is on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee for the tour is $10 per person, except on Wednesdays when the accessible cart tours are free.
"These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens," the website states.
Pre-registration is required through the website, and admission to the gardens is not included in the cost of the tour.
In addition, the buildings and central gardens are ADA compliant, making them wheelchair and stroller-accessible, and electric scooters are available to rent at the front desk in the Visitor Center. The terrain in the remainder of the campus varies – the paths range from pavers and compacted-gravel walkways to trails through wooded areas, but another shuttle runs continuously throughout the day to help those with mobility issues.
Through the program, anyone eligible may visit at no cost, and recipients may receive up to four general admission tickets per visit.
“We’re constantly working toward creating more equitable and accessible ways for people to engage with us where they feel welcome, safe, and able to connect with nature,” Ostherr said. “The Gardens for All program makes the Gardens an economically accessible destination for all Mainers.”
Early on, the program was a success "even with minimal advertising,” Ostherr said. “We modeled this program after other botanic gardens around the country and were delighted to see Mainers using it. In the future, we hope that participation will increase with more advertising and grassroots outreach throughout the state.”
"That outreach will probably happen quickly," she said, adding, "This past December, Mainebiz featured the Gardens on the cover of its 'Book of Lists 2023,'” where CMBG was ranked the third-most visited tourist attraction in Maine, coming in behind No. 1, Acadia National Park and just a breadth behind the number two spot, Sugarloaf in the Carrabassett Valley area."
Guests this season can also expect to see more drop-in educational programs that offer more opportunities to connect with nature and learn about actions they can take locally to protect the planet. The Gardens opens for the season on May 1, but visitors can peruse educational offerings now via MaineGardens.org.
At nearly 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is located at 105 Botanical Gardens Drive is the largest public garden in New England. The nationally recognized public space features 2 miles of hiking trails, 19 acres of ornamental and themed gardens, a children’s garden and a sensory garden.
Opened to the public in 2007, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is No. 3 on the Mainebiz Book of Lists. Listings are ranked by attendance in 2021, when there were 336,000 visitors and 120 employees.
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