Visiting Saint Edmund’s Retreat Center on Enders Island

My daughter and I went on a fun trip to Mystic, Connecticut last week and stopped at tiny Enders Island to see the garden at Saint Edmunds Retreat. We were blow away by the gorgeous array of Dahlias. These outstanding flowers, grown from tubers and mainly used as cut flowers, were neatly staked and labeled in over 10 large beds. Clearly a test garden for a wide range of hybrids, this is truly not just a retreat for those seeking quiet meditation time but also for Dahlia enthusiasts!

Dahlias have different categories of shapes i.e. pom-pom, waterlily, anemone, single, semi cactus and cactus form, ball, collarette etc…. The wide range of colors and color blends are endless. Hybridizers have been developing new selections since the introduction of Dahlias to Europe from Central America and Mexico during the time of the Spanish Conquest. They come in every color except blue and there are over 49 species. There is also a bedding variety for your garden borders which are dwarf height 6-12″ tall. Since they grow from tubers they are perennials and prefer sandy well drained soil, full sun and cool temperatures but can be grow in a variety of conditions. Plant tubers or plants from pots in late spring for late summer and fall blooms. Feed with bone meal and supplement with fish emulsion during flowering cycle. Cut them back after leaves and flowers die back leaving only 2-3″ of the dead stalks exposed. Stake tall Dahlias as shown in photos.

Being so late in the growing season in the North East we were delighted to find so many colorful Dahlias in the garden. The other highlights here are the sunken gardens and views out to the sea.

Small hidden alcoves provide spots to rest and reflect plus get out of the wind coming off the Atlantic. We loved the idea of these little rooms and all the stone work. They are a unique feature in this garden.

There is some work going on along the break water, hence the cyclone fencing in the pictures, but usually there is a seamless edge out to the water.

The island was donated to the catholic church about 70 years ago by the Enders Family and their Craftsman style home is still standing and used as part of the retreat. The new chapel was built to resemble the home and other buildings and parking was added for the new center.

Besides the Dahlias, there are some nice rose beds and annual beds plus lots of daisies. I like the tree lined path leading out to the bridge that connects the island to yet another island – Mason’s Island then to the mainland at Stonington near Mystic, Conn. It is free to visit the garden and site is open daily.

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