Nature’s reluctant promise of spring sends my thoughts wandering to Enders Island in Mystic, a place where growth, both human and floral, rejuvenates the soul.

The Catholic Society of St. Edmund has found the perfect location to conduct programs and retreats offering spiritual renewal.

And, lucky for locals, the public is welcome to enjoy its grandeur.

The island offers a peaceful embrace, the monastic quiet enhanced by stunning water views, while extensive flower gardens play a discernible role in the contemplative atmosphere, inviting introspective sojourns.

On a beautiful day, you might witness intimate picnic lunches for two, participants enjoying quiet conversation over goblets of wine in a perfectly picturesque setting, easily imagined framed in a fine museum.

In season, the dozens of flower beds dotting this exquisite landscape produce a floral explosion that cajoles visitors into making the connection between earthly wonders and spirituality.

They hold many floral varieties, but it is the endless number of dahlias, large and small, that draw us in.

My wife, Susan, grows many dahlias and sometimes leads me on excursions to Enders Island to view the flowers.

Through these expeditions, I discovered there is an earthly reason all those bright flowers grace Enders Island, the work of a humble woman who chooses to remain anonymous as she voluntarily pours her heart and soul into the flower beds year after year.

She modestly shuns recognition for her work, yet when you discover her working the gardens, she is most willing to share her considerable experience. We always hope to see her when we visit.

Dahlias are a demanding breed. After the first frost in fall, the tubers must be dug up, cleaned, prepared for winter storage and labeled, for there are hundreds of varieties.

In spring, the soil, after reaching 60 degrees, is prepared with fresh manure before replanting, supports installed, tubers buried in the dirt and the plants labeled again.

Regular watering is required, and the plants, some reaching 6 feet tall, must be continually maintained into the fall. The battle against attacking pests continues throughout the season.

Awesome commitment

I see the hands-on commitment required firsthand, as my wife lives among her 50 dahlia plants (plus other kinds) all through summer and into autumn, nurturing the fireworks that burst over our yard.

I’ve offered to attach headlights to her garden hose and clippers.

I can’t imagine the effort required for the endless flowers at Enders Island; it’s surely a colossal undertaking, enough to test any Good Samaritan’s stamina. I know from our correspondence that the flower gardener of the island receives little assistance, and I sense weariness.

Flowers have long and intricate ties to religions around the world and provide a strong visual link to spirituality on Enders Island.

There is a point where the intricate, delicate beauty of a flower hints at a spiritual touch. Up close, its color, complexity of design, precision and soft perfection can test the most ardent evolutionist.

Surely the beautiful flowers of Enders Island contribute to the “spiritual renewal and healing ministry” that is the focus of the Catholic Society of St. Edmund, thereby surreptitiously anointing the lady of the flowers, against her humble will to be sure, as assistant healer to the masses.

I pray she recognizes her impact on so many lives and forges on, for I can’t imagine the island without her angelic touch.

John Steward lives in Waterford. He can be reached at tossinglines@gmail.com. Read more at www.johnsteward.online.