Guardians of the Seeds Trolls

In the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, a group of five mythical trolls has taken residence, adding a touch of enchantment to the woods. Created by artist Thomas Dambo in a two-year, $500,000 collaboration, these friendly giants are nestled along hidden paths, inviting visitors on a treasure hunt to catch a glimpse. Entry is $25 per person so it isn’t busy!

You can ask for a free Guardians of the Seeds Map & Guide at the front desk, which will guide you to each troll. Note that the trolls are tucked deep within the woods, and seeing them all will requiring hiking about three miles, including on steep and uneven trails.

The sculptures, with Danish names related to the forest, expand Dambo’s collection of 80 kindred trolls tucked in various corners across the globe, which you can explore via his interactive Troll Map.

Dambo penned a poem to accompany these five Maine trolls, which you can read below. 

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Guardians of the Golden Seeds

“Somewhere between the mountains and the rocky coastlays a forest pristine green forgotten by mostand deep in this forest is a secret placewith 10 golden seeds at the end of a maze

they were hidden by five giant forest trollsprotecting each part of the forest so oldIt was told that the trolls spoke the tongue of the treesand had sworn to protect them from war and disease

Birk had roots, Roskva was wide as the trunksGro was like the leaves, breathing life with her lungsSoren, like branches, would wave in the windand Lilja like the flowers each summer would spring

The forest was ancient, had stood for millions of yearsbut recently the trolls had seen what they had fearedLittle people came plenty, across – over the seasand cut, chub, fell, broke down, most all of the trees

So in fear that a day all the trees would be gonethey collected all seeds for forever and onChestnut, cherry, elm, spruce, and hazelOak, ash, beech, birch, and a maple

The five trolls now hold around all of the seedsand harder and harder they started to squeezeso hard that stars started flashing and shakingso hard the ground started rumbling and quaking

And right then 10 golden seeds appeared in a hazeThe trolls took them and hid them at the end of a mazeWhere in secret and safe all the trees could grow tallCause a future with no trees, is no future at all

So the question is now, do you want to helpCause a secret is lost if no one keeps it to themselvesPlease run, find the seeds, and hold them in your heartSo if everything gets lost, you’ll know where to start.”