By Coral Gables Gazette staff

For the month of July, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is handing visitors a map instead of a screen and asking them to look closely. Six trolls are hidden somewhere among the palms, pools and winding paths of the 83-acre garden, and finding them is the point of “Trolls in the Garden,” a self-guided family adventure running daily from July 1 through July 31.

A hunt without screens

According to Fairchild’s garden lore, the trolls are mischievous guardians of the Garden, believed to bring luck to those who find them. Each carries a Trollmark, and the hiding places are designed to reward careful observation — roots, leaves, shadows and corners that reveal more to visitors willing to slow down.

The experience is deliberately analog. There is no app and no phone required, just a paper map, the garden itself and the pleasure of the search. Families collect a Trollmark from each of six locations, decode a secret word and earn the title of Troll Keeper of Fairchild once the hunt is complete.

The screen-free format gives the summer outing a simple appeal: children lead, adults follow, and the garden becomes the game board.

Built for wandering

The adventure unfolds across six discovery stops scattered throughout Fairchild, with daily Music & Bubbles activations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to give families a built-in pause between troll sightings.

The hunt is included with general admission and free for Fairchild members, who must reserve their free ticket online. Online ticket purchases save $5 off general admission. Admission is $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors with ID and $11.95 for children ages 3 to 11; children under 3 enter free.

Maps are available at the Gift Shop Entrance and the Lowlands Entrance. No timed reservation is required, and visitors may start any time during regular garden hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. The adventure continues rain or shine, though severe weather or lightning may require visitors to follow staff guidance and seek shelter. Parking is free.

A garden built for discovery

Fairchild has spent nearly nine decades cultivating the kind of landscape that makes a hunt like this work. Opened to the public in 1938 and named for plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild, the garden stretches across 83 acres and includes palms, cycads, orchids, tropical fruit trees, lakes, lowland paths and dense planting areas where six small figures can plausibly disappear into the scenery.

That scale is what makes “Trolls in the Garden” more than a simple scavenger hunt. It gives families a reason to move through the grounds with attention, noticing textures, shadows and corners they might otherwise pass by.

The trail is largely accessible, though Fairchild notes that some areas — including the amphitheater, mulch paths and sunken garden — include dirt, grass or rock surfaces that may be more difficult for some visitors to navigate.

For families looking for a low-stakes summer outing, Fairchild has built a monthlong reason to wander slowly, look carefully and let children take the lead.

What to know

“Trolls in the Garden” runs daily from July 1 through July 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road. Last entry is at 4:30 p.m. The experience is included with general admission and free for members with a reserved ticket.