Pinus engelmannii Carrière

Fully-hardy, large tree with rough, dark grey to dark brown, deeply fissured bark, stout shoots, and heavy, ovoid cones, to 18cm.  To 35m.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on July 21 2009

Carpinus betulus L.

Medium sized to large deciduous tree with a grey, fluted trunk and ovate, serrate, ribbed leaves and fruiting catkins to 12cm long.  Usually keeps its dead leaves through winter.  To 20m but often grown as a hedge in a similar way to Beech.  An excellent hedging species.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on April 02 2010

Mimulus ‘Andersonii’

Probably a hybrid or cultivar of Mimulus luteus L. which see.  I have found no specific description of this variety.

Added on April 23 2009

Helichrysum humile Less.

Shrub with slender, often unbranched shoots and terminal flower heads with pale pink to deep rose-coloured, papery bracts.  To 60cm.  [RHSD].

Added on September 09 2009

Fuchsia Smith’s ‘Dalstonia’

Smith’s Fuchsia ‘Dalstonia’ was described in the Floricultural Cabinet, ‘New hybrid Fuchias – notices of new plants’, by Nathaniel Norman: ‘Sepals, tubular portion rose, divisions yellow and green, reflexed.  Petals bright red.  A very profuse bloomer.’  [FC p.213/1841].  

Added on August 13 2009

Oenothera tetraptera Cav.

Frost tender perennial with branching stems and lance-shaped, somewhat pinnatifid leaves, to 9cm, and white flowers, ageing to red, in summer and autumn.  To 30cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on October 13 2009

Rhododendron indicum ‘Splendens’

A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet, ‘Splendens’ was described but not figured in Paxton's Magazine of Botany from a plant seen at Henderson’s Pine Apple Nursery: ‘Flowers like those of Azalea indica smithii, though of a deeper ground colour, with darker spots, and of a far greater size.  Its habit, too, is thought to be dwarfer and denser, and its whole aspect is superior.’  [MB p.94/1841].  An orange-pink, spotted variety, bred by Smith.  Advertisement from Bainbridge & Hewison, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, York.  [Gard. Chron. 1856].  

Added on June 07 2009

Improvements to Hortus Camdenensis

The Hortus software has been upgraded. This led to some minor errors in the layout of plant names, particularly in the headings of Plant Profile pages but these have now been largely overcome. Improvements are also progressively being made to the content of the Hortus in three main areas, botanical and horticultural history, cross referencing and illustrations. Some enhancements will be done as the opportunity arises but most will be completed family by family. This will take at least two years to complete.

Published Sep 14, 2010 - 04:06 PM | Last updated Aug 12, 2012 - 04:36 PM

Sir William Macarthur on Vines and Vineyards

Sir William Macarthur wrote extensively on vines and Vineyards. It is our intention to publish all his writings in the Hortus.

Published Aug 01, 2010 - 04:58 PM | Last updated Oct 04, 2010 - 04:47 PM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 05:19 PM

Open House and Gardens

Camden Park House and Gardens will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd September, 2012, from 12.00 noon until 4.00 pm, and Sunday 23rd from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

Published Dec 30, 2009 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 05:31 PM

Raising Tropaeolum tricolor from seed

If you have tried growing Tropaeolum tricolor from seed you have probably encountered difficulty and obtained a low germination rate.  This was certainly my experience before I took this advice.

Published Jan 01, 2010 - 03:33 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 03:38 PM

Rambles in New Zealand - Part 1

Rambles in New Zealand is the only published work of John Carne Bidwill of any length and an important document in the early colonial history of that country.
It is included in the Hortus for a number of reasons but mainly because, together with his letters to The Gardeners’ Chronicle, it completes the known published works of Bidwill. His importance in the history of the Camden Park gardens and the lack of any substantive treatment of his life and achievements make it appropriate to include all his published work here.

Rambles is published here in four parts:
Part 1 – dedication, Preface, pages 1-29
Part 2 – pages 30-59
Part 3 – pages 60-89
Part 4 – pages 90 -93, List of Subscribers

Published Feb 29, 2012 - 08:45 AM | Last updated Feb 29, 2012 - 03:08 PM

Vineyards at Camden

The vineyards of Camden Park are widely considered to be the first commercial vineyards in Australia. James and William Macarthur were certainly not the first to sell wine for profit or the first to export wine but were pioneers in the development of vineyards intended to produce a profit from the sale of quality wine. Prior to this wine was produced from small vineyards planted primarily for home consumption, with excess sold and sometimes exported.

The first vineyard was small, only one acre in extent, and largely experimental, but the second and third were on a much grander scale. As the closing words of this pamphlet demonstrate, James and William certainly had a vision of what was possible for Australian wine production, as they had previously for fine Merino wool.

‘Whether these Colonies can also hope to provide for the benefit of every class here at home, and at an equally moderate rate another exportable product, remains yet to be seen — so that even the tired artizan, in his hours of relaxation from toil, may not unseldom exclaim, “Go Fetch me a quart of (Australian) Sack.” ’

Published Aug 25, 2010 - 05:34 PM | Last updated Aug 25, 2010 - 05:51 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 8: Fermentation of the Wine

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters XIV and XV describe primary and secondary fermentation of the wine. The illustration used here is a photograph of the cellars at Camden Park House.

The entire book is reproduced in the Hortus in ten parts. For background information and Macarthur’s Introduction to the book see Part 1.

Published Sep 30, 2010 - 05:11 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:14 AM