Dendranthema x grandiflorum ‘Curled Lilac’

A cultivar of Dendranthema x grandiflorum Kitam. Incurving ranunculus flowered chrysanthemum.  ‘It grows tall, and flowers early, and is an elegant plant.’  [FC p.73/1833].  

Added on January 28 2009

Scilla amoena L.

Bulbous perennial with 4-5 flaccid leaves, to 20cm long and 3-6-flowered racemes of blue or whitish flowers on stems to 15cm.  [RHSD, Hortus].  

Added on January 09 2010

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

Gongora galeata Rchb.f. var. loddidgesii Autran & Durand

Evergreen epiphytic orchid with clustered, ovate pseudobulbs, to 5cm high, leaves to 30cm long and drooping racemes of tawny-yellow flowers with brownish-red lips.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Added on January 27 2010

Cupressus uhdeana Gord. ex Carri?re

For a description of the type see Cupressus lusitanica Mill.  Cupressus uhdeana is probably synonymous with Cupressus lusitanica Mill. var. benthamii (Endl.) Carrière, which see.  I have found no specific description of uhdeana.  Johnson’s Dictionary describes it as a greenhouse plant.

Added on August 01 2009

Camellia japonica ‘Anemoniflora’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. ‘The flowers are remarkably shewy, and resemble a double anemone.  They are about three or four inches in diameter, of a deep red colour.  The outer petals expand quite flat, roundish-cordate, surrounding a great number of smaller ones, regularly disposed and rising upright in the centre, each of them are roundish-cordate, and slightly marked with veins of a deeper colour.  Those in the centre of the flower are of a peculiar form, being small and fleshy at the base, and broad and thin at the tip, they are compactly arranged in rows from the circumference to the centre, which is considerably elevated above the outer petals, and each is incurved towards the styles, with the edges turned outwards.’  [Don]. 

Added on January 24 2009

Myrtus communis L. var. mucronata

See Myrtus communis L. for more details on the species and its varieties.  Mucronata has pointed leaves.  [JD].

Added on January 18 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

Some Account of the 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.” ’

This short pamphlet outlining the Camden vineyards was produced to accompany samples of wine to the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851.

Published Jan 10, 2011 - 04:54 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2011 - 05:07 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

A Few Words on Gesneraceous Plants

The family Gesnereaceae was an important contributor to the diversity of the colonial garden of Camden Park, with 97 plants described in the Hortus, mainly from the genera Achimenes and Sinningia. This short article provides a good overview of the history of Gesneriads as garden plants, and some very useful advice on their culture. Unfortunately I have lost the source reference, but the content suggests that it was written for an Australian colonial readership. The article is simply signed L.W.

Published Jun 26, 2010 - 03:01 PM | Last updated Jun 26, 2010 - 03:19 PM

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