The five Guardians of the Seeds at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

There's always some shocking little factoid that comes with the story of the Guardians of the Seeds at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. First of all, their very existence is awesome in itself. But then you find out there are five of them. Later, someone tells you they were built by a Danish artist and transported to Maine. Oh, and by the way, the sculptures are made entirely out of recycled wood.

If someone said the trolls' breathing patterns controlled the tides and that they can spray ice cream out of their fingertips, it wouldn't be difficult to believe.

Stemming from the mind of Copenhagen-based artist Thomas Dambo, the Guardians of the Seeds were inspired by conservation efforts and the philosophy of giving back to the Earth. Each of the five trolls represents part of a tree, contributing a unique service to the preservation of the forestry that cloaks the Botanical Gardens.

These are their stories.

Birk - holds the roots

Birk is the most grounded — quite literally. The benefit of tending to the roots means collecting and processing the necessary nutrients in the soil. Becoming one with the trees' greatest resource, Birk absorbs wisdom and mystery. Nothing about him is surface-level.

Gro - smiles with the leaves

Legend has it that Gro disappears every fall, only to return bright and fresh in the springtime. Fueled by sunbeams and raindrops, the nurturing troll maintains a Zen-like stature to remind all who occupy the forest that change will come, but so will a brand new start.

Søren - sticks up for the branches

Dreams are a lot like branches. They twist, wind, extend out. Some are sturdy, some are fragile. But there is beauty in the way they dance. There is music in the rattling leaves. And Søren, with his arms extended and his leg kicking high in the air, leads the dance every time the wind blows.

Lilja - holds the scent of the flowers

The baby of the bunch, Lilja surrounds herself with flowers of all colors and scents. Bees and butterflies float around her, engaging the senses beyond the obvious visual.

Roskva - stands for the trunks

Don't let the Bart Simpson-style haircut fool you; Roskva is a reliable contributor to the ecosystem. Like tree trunks, Roskva is the brute force of the bunch. Lore has it that she climbs towards the sky every day, growing wider and taller by the year.