Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

The Guardians of the Seeds are a set of towering trolls built by Thomas Dambo, an artist known worldwide for sculptures made entirely from scrap and reclaimed wood. Each troll has a name, a personality, and a role in a story about protecting the forest and its seeds.

They are hidden along woodland trails across the grounds, so seeing them all is a walk and a treasure hunt at once, rewarding curiosity and a willingness to wander off the manicured paths.

The trolls have drawn visitors from far beyond Maine and turned a fine regional garden into a destination, especially for families whose children race from one giant figure to the next.

Beyond the trolls, the gardens themselves are the point: rose and perennial gardens, a meditation garden, a garden of the five senses, native-plant collections, and sweeping ornamental beds designed to shine from spring through fall.

The Bibby and Harold Alfond Children's Garden is a highlight in its own right, a storybook landscape with a treehouse, a stone cottage, water features, and hidden references to Maine children's books for kids to explore.

A shoreline trail leads down to the tidal edge of the property, where the cultivated gardens give way to rocks, mudflats, and the rise and fall of the Maine tide, tying the whole place to the sea.

The gardens began in 1991 as the dream of a small group of MidCoast residents who wanted a public botanical garden for Maine. They spent years acquiring land and raising funds before opening the first gardens to the public in 2007.

Since then the institution has expanded steadily, adding gardens, trails, a visitor center, education programs, and the art installations that now draw crowds, all while conserving a large tract of coastal forest and shoreline.

Today it is both a horticultural showcase and a conservation property, protecting native habitat while welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

Spring brings the first bulbs and flowering trees and a fresh, uncrowded feel as the gardens wake up.

Summer is peak bloom and peak crowds, when the ornamental gardens are at their fullest and the troll trail is busiest, so early arrival helps.

Fall adds foliage color to the native woodland, and in winter the gardens stage a popular evening lights festival that turns the grounds into a glowing wonderland against the snow.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, in Boothbay on the midcoast of Maine, is one of the largest and most beautiful botanical gardens in New England, a spectacular expanse of themed gardens, woodlands, and shoreline along a tidal river. The gardens feature stunning ornamental plantings, a celebrated children's garden, a rose garden, meditation gardens, sculpture, forest trails, and tidal-river frontage, all beautifully designed and maintained. Famous for its beauty in every season, including a dazzling holiday light display, it delights visitors of all ages. With its gorgeous themed gardens and natural beauty, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offers a delightful destination in Maine.

You can explore beautiful themed gardens including ornamental plantings, a rose garden, meditation gardens, and a beloved and imaginative children's garden, walk woodland and shoreline trails along the tidal river, admire sculpture and water features, and enjoy the stunning design and seasonal blooms. The children's garden and the gorgeous plantings are highlights, and in the holiday season the gardens host a spectacular light display. It is delightful for all ages. With its themed gardens, trails, and natural beauty, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offer an enchanting visit in Boothbay, Maine.

Yes, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are wonderful for families, especially thanks to the imaginative children's garden with its whimsical features, play areas, and story-themed elements that delight kids, along with the beautiful gardens, easy trails, and open space to explore. Children love the interactive children's garden, and the whole family can enjoy the stunning plantings and scenery. Strollers and gentle paths make it easy. With its enchanting children's garden and beautiful grounds, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens make an excellent family destination in Boothbay, Maine.

Late spring through fall is the prime time to see the gardens in bloom, with spring bringing early flowers, summer the fullest and most colorful gardens, and fall offering lovely color, while the gardens are beautiful throughout the growing season. The holiday season brings a spectacular light display, a magical time to visit. Because some areas and the light display are seasonal, checking current hours and events before you go is wise. For the gardens at their most beautiful, aim for late spring through fall, or the holiday lights, at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Maine.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are in Boothbay on the midcoast of Maine, within reach of the Boothbay Harbor region, the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Rockland area, Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, and the midcoast lighthouses and villages. That makes the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens a delightful stop to combine with the Boothbay Harbor area, the Rockland attractions, and the other sights of midcoast Maine on a visit to the state.