Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat Gris’

‘Bunches middle-sized, with small narrow shoulders. Berries round, larger than those of the White Frontignan, and growing closer upon the bunches: they are of a pale brown colour, intermixed with red and yellow. The Juice is very rich, and possesses a high musky flavour.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.201/1831].

Added on June 23 2010

Dahlia ‘Miss Frampton’

A deep red ground, with shaded white tip, good form and substance and ‘well deserving the First-Class Certificate which was awarded to it’.  Bred by Mr. Rawlings, it was awarded its Certificate at the National Floricultural Society show in September.  [Gard. Chron. 1854].  Included among the best ‘Fancies – tipped’ at the Grand National Dahlia Show, Sept. 23 and 24, 1858.  [Gard. Chron. 1858].

Added on April 21 2009

Prunus armeniaca ‘Kaisha’

A cultivar of Prunus armeniaca L. ‘Medium sized, roundish, marked with a suture, which is deep towards the stalk, and gradually diminishes towards the apex, which is pitted. Skin pale-lemon coloured on the shaded side, and tinged and mottled with red next the sun. Flesh transparent, separating freely from the stone, clear pale yellow, tender, and very juicy, sugary, and richly flavoured. Stone small, roundish. Kernel sweet. Middle of August.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.39/1860].

Added on April 20 2010

Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. var. nutans (Ait.) Endl.

An upright tree with the trunk expanded at the base, a conical to columnar crown, and short- triangular branches. The variety nutans is deciduous, the shoots strongly erect at first, then with pendulous tips.  See also see Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on August 07 2009

Prunus tenella Batsch.

Fully-hardy, bushy, deciduous shrub with upright shoots and bowl-shaped, bright pink flowers, solitary or in profuse clusters of 2-3, produced with the leaves in spring, followed by almond-like fruit.  To 1.5m.  [RHSE, Hilliers’].

Added on February 18 2009

Gentiana asclepiadea L.

Hardy perennial with lance-shaped leaves and solitary, axillary azure blue flowers, spotted purple within.  To 45cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on February 08 2009

Yucca glauca Nutt.

Stemless or short-stemmed yucca with a horizontal rosette, to 1.2m across of narrow, pointed, glaucous leaves.  The flowers are greenish-white, pendulous, in an erect raceme to 1.5 m high.  [RHSD, Hortus]. 

Added on January 22 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

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 10: The Wine Cellar

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letter XVIII, the final letter, describes the construction and operation of a wine cellar. Although Macarthur writes ‘I have not had so much experience practically in the construction of this description of buildings, as with the majority of the details, upon which, I have endeavoured to communicate information’ it seems likely that the building he describes in such detail is modeled on the Wine House at Camden Park, the remains of which survive. Indeed, in discussing the perfect site, he also writes that ‘such in fact is the description of site adopted at Camden’. The illustration used here is a photograph of the ruins of the Camden Park Wine House showing the brick and sandstone vats built in the cellar of this building 170 years ago. These are ‘of two sizes, which contain respectively, 900 and 1,700 gallons; and we use them, as well to ferment in, as to store the wine in afterwards.’ So well built were these vats that William Macarthur asserted ‘they will probably endure without repairs for generations’. He was certainly correct in this as, although they have not been used for more than 100 years and have been open to the elements for much of this time, three of these vats are still in good repair today. The other two are partly collapsed. In this final letter Macarthur also describes the construction of brick wine bins such as are to be seen in the cellars at Camden Park house. A photograph on one of these bins is given in Part 9.

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 Oct 03, 2010 - 03:00 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:10 AM

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

The Family Amaryllidaceae at Camden Park

Amaryllidaceae was a very significant family of plants in the history of the Camden Park gardens.  The following Essay provides a little background to these important plants.

Published Jan 01, 2010 - 05:11 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:54 PM

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