A Guide to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Located on 295 acres of rocky shorefront in Boothbay, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) has grown from a local dream into New England’s largest botanical garden. Since opening in 2007, it has become one of Maine’s most visited attractions, drawing nature lovers, families, and garden enthusiasts from around the world with its unique combination of cultivated beauty and wild Maine landscape.

What makes CMBG different from traditional botanical gardens is how it embraces rather than fights the Maine environment. Mossy forests, granite ledges, and tidal shoreline provide the backdrop for carefully designed garden spaces. The result feels less like a formal garden and more like a curated celebration of the Maine coast—native plants alongside cultivated specimens, wild areas transitioning seamlessly into manicured beds.

The History

The gardens began as a community vision in the 1990s, when local residents imagined creating a public garden on the Midcoast. After years of fundraising and planning, the first gardens opened in 2007. The growth since then has been remarkable—what started as a few developed acres has expanded to include major garden installations, a world-class children’s garden, and the now-famous troll sculptures.

The Giant Trolls

In 2021, the gardens introduced “Guardians of the Seeds,” an installation by Danish artist Thomas Dambo—and the trolls have become as famous as the gardens themselves. Originally planned as a temporary exhibit, the five massive wooden sculptures proved so popular that they are now permanent fixtures, making CMBG the first location in the United States to host a permanent Thomas Dambo installation.

Meet the Trolls: Roskva, Lilja, Birk, Gro, and Soren are hidden throughout the deep woods trails. Each troll was built from recycled wood found on the property, and each has its own personality and hiding spot.
The Troll Hunt: Visitors can follow a map to find all five trolls—a quest that takes you through forests most visitors would otherwise skip. The search adds adventure to the garden experience, especially for children.
The Message: Each troll guards seeds and represents themes of conservation and protecting nature. The installation turns a garden visit into an interactive story about environmental stewardship.

Key Gardens to Explore

1. The Children’s Garden

Inspired by Maine children’s literature (like Blueberries for Sal and Miss Rumphius). It features a “whale” rock to climb, a play cottage, and interactive water features. It is arguably the best children’s garden in New England.

2. The Lerner Garden of the Five Senses

Designed to be accessible and sensory-rich. You are encouraged to touch the fuzzy leaves of Lamb’s Ear, smell the chocolate cosmos, and listen to the water features.

3. The Vayo Meditation Garden

A quiet, Japanese-influenced space featuring a massive granite basin and intricate stone paving. It’s a place of Zen in the middle of the busy gardens.

4. The Butterfly House

A Gothic-style hoop house filled with native Maine butterflies and moths (like the Luna Moth). Note: Seasonal.

Gardens Aglow (Winter)

From mid-November through early January, the gardens transform into Gardens Aglow—Maine’s largest light display and one of Maine’s signature holiday experiences.

The Spectacle: Over 750,000 LED lights wrap the trees, buildings, and trolls, turning the winter landscape into a magical wonderland. The trolls illuminated at night take on an entirely different character than during daylight visits.
The Experience: Walking paths are cleared, hot cocoa and treats are available, and fire pits provide warmth. It’s a completely different experience from summer visits—and equally memorable.
Tickets: You must buy tickets in advance online. They sell out weeks ahead, especially for weekends and holiday weeks. Book early if you’re planning a December visit.

The Shoreline Trail

Don’t miss the walk to the tidal waterfront. The Shoreline Trail takes you from the cultivated gardens down to the rocky coast where the Back River meets the ocean. It’s a reminder that this garden exists within the larger Maine landscape—the tide rises and falls, seals occasionally appear, and the coast is as much a feature as any flower bed.

Seasonal Highlights

The gardens change dramatically through the seasons, with something notable happening almost every month:

May-June: Spring bulbs, rhododendrons, and the opening energy of a new season
July-August: Peak bloom for perennials, the butterfly house at full activity
September-October: Fall foliage, ornamental grasses, and quieter crowds
November-January: Gardens Aglow light display

Visiting Tips

Wear Walking Shoes: The campus is huge—you’ll easily walk 2-3 miles if you explore everything, including the troll hunt and shoreline trail.
Plan Time: A thorough visit takes 3-4 hours. Rushing through in an hour means missing most of what makes the gardens special.
Accessibility: The central gardens are ADA compliant, with paved paths and modest grades. Electric scooters and shuttles are available for rent.
Dining: The Kitchen Garden Café offers local food with garden views. The Snack Bar handles quick bites. You can also pack a picnic.
Tickets: Buying online in advance is highly recommended, especially in summer and for Gardens Aglow. Weekday visits are significantly less crowded.
Dogs: Not permitted (with exceptions for service animals).

Practical Information

Location: 132 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, Maine
Season: Regular season runs May 1 through late October; Gardens Aglow runs mid-November through early January
Hours: Generally 9 AM to 5 PM during regular season (check website for current hours)
Cost: Adult admission is approximately $24-26; children and seniors receive discounts; Gardens Aglow tickets are separate
Parking: Large free lot; accessible parking available near the entrance

Nearby Attractions

After visiting the gardens, consider exploring more of the Boothbay region:

Boothbay Harbor: The quintessential Maine harbor village, 15 minutes away
Hendricks Head Beach: A quiet swimming beach in nearby Southport
Burnt Island Lighthouse: Accessible by boat from Boothbay Harbor
Linekin Preserve: Trails and coastline managed by Boothbay Region Land Trust

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens represents Maine at its most ambitious—a world-class attraction built on the understanding that the Maine landscape itself is the foundation for everything else. Whether you come for the trolls, the flowers, the children’s garden, or the winter lights, you leave with a deeper appreciation for what grows in this corner of the world.

Educational Programs

CMBG offers extensive programming for all ages:

Children’s Programs: Nature-based learning activities run throughout summer, teaching kids about plants, wildlife, and ecology through hands-on exploration.
Adult Workshops: Topics range from container gardening to floral design to botanical illustration. Check the calendar for upcoming sessions.
Lectures and Tours: Visiting speakers and expert-led tours provide deeper understanding of horticulture, ecology, and garden design.
School Programs: Field trips and curriculum-aligned programs bring thousands of Maine students to the gardens annually.

The Community Connection

The gardens maintain strong ties to the Boothbay community and the broader Maine gardening world. The volunteer program involves hundreds of dedicated individuals who help maintain the grounds, lead tours, and support events. Garden club partnerships throughout Maine extend the institution’s reach and influence.

The on-site nursery sells plants suited to Maine conditions, many propagated from the gardens’ own collections. Purchasing here supports the gardens while ensuring you’re getting plants that will thrive in Maine’s challenging climate.

Making the Most of Your Visit

First-time visitors often underestimate the scope of CMBG. A few strategies for maximizing your experience:

Start with the map: Pick up a map at the visitor center and plan your route. The troll hunt alone requires significant walking if you want to find all five.
Pace yourself: The gardens reward slow exploration. Rushing through misses the details that make each area special.
Return visits: Consider a membership if you’re local. The gardens change dramatically through the seasons, and multiple visits reveal layers that a single trip cannot capture.
Combine activities: The gardens pair well with other Boothbay area attractions for a full-day experience.