The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Gardens, now a historic landmark and museum, became a haven of solace and peace for the Rabbits during their healing. The formal parterre gardens on the property were designed by Caroline and her mother, Eliza Woolsey Ferriday. Over a century later, they still blossom each year with roses, peonies, lilacs, and fragrant trees and shrubs.
Lilacs are said to best bloom after a harsh winter. Author Martha Hall Kelly likens the Rabbits to the bountiful lilacs planted at the Ferriday property—resilient even in the darkest of times. With the generous assistance from Caroline Ferriday, these brave women were able to rebuild their lives and once again find hope and beauty.
Photography Marcy Black Simpson
