Tropaeolum majus L.

Frost-tender annual scrambler or climber with rounded to kidney-shaped leaves and long-spurred, orange, red or yellow flowers from summer to autumn.  To 3m.  There are many garden cultivars and hybrids. The leaves, flowers and unripe seeds are all edible.  [RHSE, Hortus]. 

Added on January 22 2009

Doronicum caucasicum M.Bieb.

A rhizomatous herbaceous perennial with toothed, kidney-shaped basal leaves, a few lance-shaped stem leaves and solitary yellow, daisy-like flower heads, about 5cm across.  To 60cm.  Improved garden forms exist, such as magnificum, with larger flower heads.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on September 15 2009

Mimulus ‘Gutherianus’

Probably a Mimulus hybrid or cultivar, perhaps one of the ‘still more beautiful varieties’ mentioned in The Gardeners’ Chronicle.  [Gard. Chron. 1852].  I have found no description.

Added on January 29 2009

Oxalis tetraphylla Cav.

Frost-hardy clump-forming perennial with leaves consisting of 4 roughly inversely-triangular leaflets, usually purple at the base, and loose, umbel-like cymes of 4-12 funnel-shaped, reddish-purple flowers, with greenish yellow throats in spring and summer.  [RHSE, Hortus].  Oxalis deppei and O. tetraphylla, generally regarded as synonymous are sometimes treated as  separate, but very similar species from Mexico.  For convenience they are treated separately here.  See Oxalis deppei Schlecht. ex Hemsl. for more information.

Added on January 28 2010

Quercus cerris L.

Fully-hardy, fast-growing, spreading, deciduous tree with grey white bark which splits into large plates, lance-shaped, deeply lobed or toothed leaves, to 12cm long, and solitary or small groups of acorns, to 4cm long.  To 30m.  It occurs naturally in many forms.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on February 03 2010

Quercus glauca Thunb.

Evergreen tree, sometimes shrubby, with narrow leaves, toothed towards the tips, to 12cm long, and ovoid acorns with a shallow cup, to 1.5cm.  To 15m.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on February 03 2010

Sophora tomentosa L.

Upright, evergreen, bushy shrub with typically nine leaflets and bright lemon yellow, scentless flowers.  [BM t.3390/1836].  

Added on December 25 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

Thomas Harris (1885-1948)

Thomas Harris, born in Worcestershire in 1885, was a gardener at Camden Park from 1913 to 1938.

Published Aug 16, 2012 - 11:09 AM | Last updated Mar 16, 2015 - 02:12 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 5: Management and Replenishment of the Vineyard

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters VII and VIII deal with the management of the vineyard after planting, the use of manures and the replenishment of an exhausted vineyard. The illustration used here is Macarthur’s Plate 2, a section of a vineyard. This is referred to in detail in Part 4, however it does illustrate the method of vine culture recommended and described here, the dwarf-standard method which at this time was practiced mostly in the north of France.

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 09, 2010 - 05:49 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:15 AM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 7: The Vintage (Continued)

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters IX, X and XI, reproduced in Part 6, dealt with the vintage, including the theory and practice of fermentation and preparation for winemaking. The vintage is continued in Part 7, letters XII and XIII giving a description of grape harvesting and crushing. The illustration used here is an excellent lithograph showing the grape harvest at the third vineyard at Camden Park in 1878.

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 24, 2010 - 05:07 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:14 AM

Rambles in New Zealand - Part 4

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 - 02:37 PM | Last updated Mar 16, 2015 - 02:13 PM