Rosa ‘Dr. Henon’

Hybrid perpetual.  Rivers described the flowers of ‘Dr. Henon’ as rather small, white, slightly tinted with straw-colour, on a bush of delicate growth.  Paul, on the other hand, described the flowers as white, large, full, globular and fine.  A first rate flower but habit delicate.  It was among the handful of roses, among 70 or 80 new varieties imported, that bloomed well at Paul’s Nursery in 1856.  [Rivers (1857, 1863), Paul 1863, GC p.788/1856].

Added on February 12 2010

Prunus domestica ‘Belle de Septembre’

A Prunus domestica L. cultivar. ‘Fruit large, roundish-oval, marked with a shallow suture. Skin thin, violet-red, thickly covered with yellow dots, and a thin blue bloom. Stalk half an inch long, slender, inserted in a shallow cavity. Flesh yellowish-white, firm, juicy, sweet, and aromatic. Shoots downy. A first-rate plum for cooking or preserving; it furnishes a fine crimson juice or syrup. Ripe in the beginning and middle of October.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.231/1860].

Added on May 27 2010

Camellia japonica ‘Marina’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. Camden Park bred, seedling 12/50.  ‘Scarlet crimson, petals outer two rows large and flat, inner smaller, erect and confused.  Globular flower.  Very handsome.  Tolerably good. E.B.’  It seems probable that the basic description was by Edmund Blake with some corrections and ‘tolerably good’ added by William Macarthur.  [MP A2948-6].

Added on June 29 2009

Prunus armeniaca L.

A small rounded tree with ovate, toothed leaves and white or pinkish flowers often crowded on short spurs, followed by round yellow fruits, to 5cm across and often red tinged. To 8m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers'].

Added on April 20 2010

Paeonia peregrina Mill.

A fully-hardy herbaceous perennial with erect stems, deeply cut leaves and single, bowl-shaped, glistening, deep red flowers in spring and summer. To 60cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].  

Added on February 18 2009

Drosanthemum flavum (Haw.) Schwantes

Yellow flowers.  [JD].  Dwarf, erect-growing shrub with slender branches and glittering, crowded leaves, nearly circular in section.  [Sonder – Flora Capensis].

Added on October 10 2009

Fuchsia ‘Atrosanguinea’

Fuchsia atrosanguinea has a dark carmine tube, long reflexed sepals and a crimson corolla.  [CG p.245/1848].  Possibly a hybrid its origin is unknown.

Added on January 31 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 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 - 03:53 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:15 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 - 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

Australian native plants in the Hortus

Australian native plants were important to the gardening enterprises of Camden Park.  Even today Australian trees such as Araucaria species, Agathis robusta, Brachychiton populneum, Lagunaria pattersonia, Grevillea robusta and several species of palm very much define the landscape of the gardens.  Australian plants, particularly native orchids and ferns, were sent to England in large numbers in exchange for the exotic plants that were so much desired by Macarthur and his fellow colonists.

Published Mar 13, 2010 - 05:22 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:32 PM