Oxalis livida Jacq. var. livida Jacq.

No definitive description at present.  Various internet sources illustrate a low growing species with 3-lobed leaves, the lobes rounded and indented at the apex, and bright yellow flowers, to 3cm across.  However, the illustrations of Oxalis dentata in Jacquin’s Oxalis: Monographia Iconibus Illustrata (1794) and Oxalis lateriflora in Plantorum Rariorum Horti Caesarei Schoenbrunnensis (1797-1804) show a long-stemmed plant with similar leaves but flower spikes bearing up to 4 purplish-red flowers.

Added on January 28 2010

Primula auricula L.

Hardy primula with obovate leaves, to 8cm long and a flower stem bearing an umbel of up to 20 flowers, typically yellow in the wild bit in a range of colours in the Florist’s auricula.  The leaves, flower stem and flowers are typically covered in farina.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on October 14 2009

Camellia japonica ‘Grunellii’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L., ‘Grunellii’ has pure white flowers, full and irregular, often 14cm across, anemone form, with a resemblance to ‘Waratah Alba’.  The 2-3 outside rows of petals are reflexed and twisted, the centre of the flower bearing many small, distorted petals, making a large spherical mass.  [ICR].

Added on June 22 2009

Dicentra spectabilis (L.) Lem.

Fully hardy, clump-forming perennial with thick, fleshy roots, leaves up to 40cm long, composed of three, often deeply cut, leaflets, and arching, fleshy stems producing racemes of flowers, 2-3cm long, with rose-pink outer petals and white inner, in spring and summer.  To 1.2m.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on March 12 2009

Fraxinus excelsior L.

Fully-hardy, vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree with conspicuous black buds in winter, pinnate leaves, to 30cm long, composed of 9, 11, or 13 leaflets, which turn yellow in autumn.  To 30m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on February 16 2009

Gladiolus blandus x blandus

Gladiolus carneus var. blandus x Gladiolus carneus hybrid.  This hybrid was originally identified as ‘late flesh coloured’.  Two materially different strains of Gladiolus carneus were presumably used.  No description is extant although this plant must have looked very look the figure given here.

Added on October 23 2009

Rhipsalis baccifera (J.S.Muell.) Stearn

Identification uncertain and no description at present.

Added on March 02 2010

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

Colonial Australian Wines

The following article appeared in The Gardeners’ Chronicle of Saturday, November 25th, 1854. It includes a review of seven wines sent to the proprietors of The Gardeners’ Chronicle from Camden Park by William Macarthur, together with his notes on the wines, the vineyards in which they were produced and the economic conditions pertaining to wine production and sale in Australia. Macarthur’s brief notes, when read with the more detailed essay Some Account of the Vineyards at Camden, extends our knowledge of wine production at Camden but most importantly provides an external (but not necessarily unbiased) view of the quality of the wines.

Published Jun 30, 2011 - 02:12 PM | Last updated Jul 04, 2011 - 09:00 AM

Rambles in New Zealand - Part 2

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 - 12:18 PM | Last updated Mar 01, 2012 - 07:02 AM

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

Camden Park Nursery Group

We are a small voluntary group helping to maintain and preserve the historic Camden Park gardens. There are regular meeting days, currently Tuesday and Saturday but this can be varied, but most members contribute through Working Bees held typically every third Sunday.

Published Jun 27, 2010 - 04:16 PM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 04:32 PM