Arboretum Plant Collections

General Info | Native Plants | Wild Flower Garden
Caroline Black Garden | Connecticut College Campus | Greenhouse

To see the world in a grain of sand,
And heaven in a wildflower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
                          William Blake

Introduction:

The Edgerton and Stengel Wildflower Garden was established in 1956 as a memorial to Mrs. Malcolm J. Edgerton, a respected member of the Arboretum Advisory Committee and the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. The approximately two acre plot is designed as a representative display of eastern woodland wildflowers that is maintained with ecologically sound landscaping techniques. The informal design of the garden was created by John Stengel, Arboretum horticulturist; Dr. Richard H. Goodwin, Arboretum director; and Dr. William A. Niering, professor of botany.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Wildflower Garden was extended to the south, and in 1976, this portion was dedicated to John Stengel who was instrumental in the success of the Arboretum during his twenty years of dedicated service, ending when he retired in 1973.

The garden was renovated during 1995 and 1996. A team of Connecticut College staff composed of Dr. Niering; Glenn D. Dreyer, Arboretum director; and Jeffrey D. Smith, Arboretum horticulturist; gathered together to initiate the planning and determine the garden renovation project goals. They were later assisted by David Longland, designer and horticulturist; Art Manthorn of Woodstock Wildflower Nursery; and Jack Deering, construction planner. The renovated garden features native eastern woodland wildflowers with a simplified, more accessible path system. The rocky slope creates a unique appeal with ranges of moisture and sunlight to allow a diversity of wildflower colors and textures.

Today, the wildflower garden has a canopy of White Ash and Red Maple. Stone walls remain, the only remnants of agricultural use. The garden is filled with wildflowers and a shrub layer of native Azaleas and Rhododendrons.

On this web site you will find a partial list of species found in the Edgerton and Stengel Wildflower Garden. For each flower listed, a picture and/or information about the flower is available. Wildflower Garden List by Bloom Time

Come by in the Spring for a tour of the garden.

Introduction adapted from unpublished data:

Altvater, Laura D. 1996: Naturalistic Landscaping and the Renovation of the Edgerton and Stengel Woodland Wildflower Garden of the Connecticut College Arboretum.