Paphiopedilum venustum (Wall.) Pfitzer

Half hardy orchid with short, bluish-green leaves with purplish veins, and solitary ladies’ slipper flowers, greenish white with purplish stripes, in winter.  [RHSD].

Added on January 24 2010

Zephyranthes atamasco (L.) Herb.

A bulbous perennial, the basal leaves are semi-erect and strap-shaped, the scentless funnel-shaped white flowers, sometimes flushed with purple, appearing in spring or summer.  To 30cm.  [RHS, Hortus, Baker Am.].  

Added on May 15 2009

Clarkia romanzovii A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.

Perennial with lance-shaped leaves and violet-coloured flowers in summer.  To 30cm.  [RHSD].

Added on October 12 2009

Sparaxis fragrans (Jacq.) Ker-Gawl. subsp. grandiflora (D.Delaroche) Goldbl.

Variable species with basal fans of lance-shaped leaves and spikes of up to 6, flattish, widely funnel-shaped, flowers in spring and summer.  There are four ssp., grandiflora, with deep reddish-purple flowers; fimbriata with cream flowers; acutiloba with yellow flowers; and violacea with white flowers marked purple, shading to purple marked with white.  To 45cm.  [RHSE, CECB].  

Added on November 18 2009

Fuchsia magellanica Lam. var. gracilis L.H.Bailey

Gracilis forms a floriferous shrub of slender habit with small scarlet and violet-purple flowers.  See also Fuchsia magellanica Lam. var. conica L.H.Bailey.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers', Don].

Added on January 31 2009

Rhododendron indicum ‘Duc de Brabant’

;A cultivar of Rhododendron indicum Sweet, Duc de Brabant’ has semi-double, rose-coloured flowers, with deep red spots towards the base of the petals.  It was bred by C. van Loo.  [IH p.182 vol. 4/1858].  Scarlet flowered and early flowering.  Advertisement from Bainbridge & Hewison, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists, York.  [Gard. Chron. 1856].

Added on June 04 2009

Illicium anisatum L.

Frost hardy, conical evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, lance-shaped leaves, to 12cm, and fragrant, star-shaped, yellow-green, later cream, flowers, to 2.5cm across, in spring.  To 8m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on March 18 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

The Fuchsias of Camden Park

The first fuchsia introduced to English gardens in 1788 was a variety of Fuchsia magellanica Lam.  This new plant soon attracted the attention of florists and, stimulated by the regular introduction of new species and varieties from South America, selection and hybridisation saw a rapidly increasing number of named varieties available through the nurseries.  The first record of a fuchsia at Camden Park is Fuchsia conica, which arrived on board the ‘Sovereign’ in February 1831.  By 1857 fifty-eight species, cultivars and hybrids had been recorded as growing in the gardens.

Published Mar 14, 2010 - 10:50 AM | Last updated Jun 24, 2011 - 02:45 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

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

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