Buddleja salvifolia Lam.

Frost hardy. arching, semi-evergreen shrub with sage-like leaves and panicles, to 15cm long, of fragrant, pale lilac-blue flowers in autumn and winter.  To 3m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on February 27 2010

Mimulus puniceus (Nutt.) Steud.

Frost hardy, erect-branched shrub with narrowly lance-shaped, toothed, sticky leaves and leafy racemes of funnel-shaped, brick-red to orange-red flowers, to 5cm long, from spring to summer.  To 1.5m.  [RHSE, Hilliers'].

Added on February 22 2009

Rosa ‘Madame Laffay’

Hybrid Perpetual rose.  Paul describes the flowers of ‘Madame Laffay’ as large, bright crimson-rose in colour, and the Floricultural Cabinet as deep rich rose colour, superb form and showy.  [Paul (1848, 1863, 1888), FC p.247/1847].

Added on February 12 2010

Primula sinensis ‘Fimbriata’

A cultivar of Primula sinensis Sabine ex Lindl. See Primula sinensis ‘Purpurea’ for more information.  ‘Fimbriata’ is a form with fringed or crested flowers.  [RHSD].  Paxton's and Johnson's Dictionary both list fimbriata, with fringed petals, in both white and rose.

Added on October 14 2009

Buddleja madagascariensis Lam.

Frost tender, vigorous, strongly branched evergreen shrub or lax climber, the young leaves and stems downy white, with lance-shaped leaves and bright orange-yellow flowers in pendulous terminal panicles, to 25cm long, from autumn to spring.  To 4m.  [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Added on March 02 2009

Pyrus communis ‘Nouvelle Fulvie’

‘Fruit large or very large, pyramidal-pyriform, strongly bossed, lemon-yellow when ripe, colored with vivid red on the side exposed to the sun, marked and dotted with russet; flesh yellowish-white, very fine, melting, buttery; juice very abundant, sugary, having an exquisite perfume; good; Nov. to Feb.’ [Pears of New York p.483 as ‘Nouvelle Fulvie’].

Added on May 20 2010

Philotheca buxifolia (Sm.) Paul G.Wilson

Frost tender, evergreen shrub with small, roundish leaves and solitary, pinkish, axillary flowers, to 2cm across, in early summer.  To 60cm.  [RHSD, FNSW, Beadle].

Added on February 14 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 - 06:06 AM | Last updated Aug 12, 2012 - 06:36 AM

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 - 06:58 AM | Last updated Oct 04, 2010 - 05:47 AM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 04:59 AM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 06:19 AM

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 - 03:58 AM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 06:31 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 - 05:54 AM | Last updated Jan 10, 2011 - 06:07 AM

Edmund Blake - Gardener

Edmund Blake is important in the history of Camden Park gardens, where he was employed as a gardener from 1837 until probably at least 1867.  William Macarthur named three hybrid plants in his honour, Passiflora  ‘Blakei’, Gladiolus ‘Blakei’ and Erythrina ‘Blakei, testament to the high regard in which he was held.  Erythrina ‘Blakei’ has survived to this day. It is a magnificent shrub worthy of a place in any large garden.

Published Apr 03, 2010 - 04:35 AM | Last updated Aug 14, 2012 - 06:55 AM

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 - 06:16 AM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 06:32 AM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 6: The Vintage

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters IX, X and XI deal with the vintage, including the theory and practice of fermentation and preparation for winemaking. The process of winemaking is dealt with in more detail in subsequent letters. The illustration used here is a wine label from the 1852 Muscat vintage. Follow this link to further examples of wine labels from this period.

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 15, 2010 - 05:53 AM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 01:15 AM