Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden Opening For Tenth Season

BETHLEHEM — The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will begin its tenth season on Friday, May 2.

Located in the center of Bethlehem, the historic house museum tells the story of the first and last owners of the property, the Reverend Joseph Bellamy, the first minister of Bethlehem, and Caroline Woolsey Ferriday, a humanitarian of diverse interests. Visitors can learn how the lives of these dynamic people, with deep relationships to the property, also extended beyond the rural boundaries of Bethlehem. Learn how they left a mark in the affairs of the world.

The 1754 residence is furnished with American and European antiques from the collection of the Ferriday family. The property also includes a formal parterre garden, a historic apple orchard, and several 18th Century outbuildings. The garden boasts a collection of peonies, lilacs, and roses, as well as hundreds of perennials and shrubs.

The property also features an exhibit, “Inheriting Eden: Maintaining Historic Landscapes,” which focuses on the evolution of the property from working farm to a formal landscape. Also offered are monthly garden walks, guided tours, a gift shop, and plant sales.

Guided tours of the property are conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm, from May through October. Admission is $5 per adult and $2 per child under the age of 18.

The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden is a property of The Antiquarian and Landmarks Society (A&L), founded in 1936 to preserve and interpret the heritage of Connecticut. For more information about tours or to receive a brochure or calendar of events, call 203-266-7596 or send email to Ferriday@snet.net. The property at 9 Main Street (Route 61) in Bethlehem.

Special Events

The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will feature three garden events in May on its beautiful historic landscape.

On Saturday, May 17, from 10 am to 3 pm, there will be a plant sale of trees, shrubs and perennials, many propagated from the historic plants of the Ferriday garden.

Also on May 17, from 1 to 3, there will be a Re-Pot-A-Thon. This free event provides participants the opportunity to repot their potbound plants, as well as to learn about pruning them. Visitors bring in their potted plants and Bellamy-Ferriday staff will provide the soil and the expertise.

On Sunday, May 18, at 3 pm, a walking tour will be offered of the grounds of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden. Participants will look at a wide variety of shrubs in bloom. Included in the plant collection are 15 different lilacs along with azaleas and other more shrubs of special interest. Many of the plants will be offered for sale. Cost is $2 per person.