Pyrus communis ‘Beurré Diel’

‘Fruit large, about the size and figure of the summer Bon-chretien, without the protuberances of that variety: it is much swollen a little above the middle, going off to the eye either abruptly or gradually, and tapering straight to the stalk, without any contraction of figure; when fully grown, it is four inches and a half long, and three inches and a half in diameter. Eye close, in a deep hollow, surrounded by knobs, ribs, or broad protuberances. Stalk one inch and a half long, strong, bent, woody, inserted in a deep, irregularly and obtusely angled cavity. Skin bright green when first gathered, changing in a short time to a bright orange, with a little trace of russet. Flesh clear white, a little gritty towards the core, but otherwise perfectly tender and melting, juicy, with a delicious, rich, aromatic, saccharine flavour. In eating from November till January.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.393/1831].

Added on May 19 2010

Pyrus communis ‘Léon Leclerc de Laval’

‘Fruit large, long-obovate, and rounding towards the eye. Skin smooth and shining, yellow, strewed with brown dots, and marked with tracings of russet. Eye large, with long, straight, narrow segments, set in a shallow basin. Stalk an inch and a half long, inserted without depression by the side of a fleshy lip. Flesh white, half-melting or crisp, juicy, sweet, and perfumed. An excellent stewing pear, which in some seasons is half-melting, and is in use from January till May and June.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.197/1860].

Added on May 20 2010

Fuchsia ‘Fanny Elsler’

I have found no description of this cultivar.

Added on August 16 2009

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Bunge

Fully hardy, rhizomatous, spreading, woody-based perennial with upright, slender red stems, obovate, wavy-margined leaves, to 9cm long, colouring in autumn, and terminal spikes of bright blue flowers, to 2cm across, in summer.  To 45cm.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Added on March 24 2009

Camellia japonica ‘Spectabilis’

A cultivar of Camellia japonica L. ‘Leaves large, often of the colour and form of those of the single red camellia, or those of Variegata plena; buds with greenish scales; flower three inches in diameter, double, rose color, No.4; exterior petals regularly arranged in three rows, broad, sometimes spotted with white; those of the centre swollen, folded upon the ovary, twisted, mixed with some stamens and often striped with white. – Very handsome.’  [Berlèse Monography p.54/1838].  

Added on July 03 2009

Prunus persica ‘Royal George’

A Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cultivar. ‘Flowers small. Fruit above the middle size, nearly globular. Suture deep, especially at the apex, where it extends almost two thirds across. Skin of a yellowish white next the wall, sprinkled with numerous red dots; but of a deep red, and slightly marbled with a deeper colour on the side next the sun. Flesh melting, yellowish white, but very red at the stone, from which it separates. Juice plentiful, rich, and high-flavoured. Stone ovate, slightly furrowed. Ripe about the middle of September.’ [George Lindley – Orchard Guide p.270/1831].

Added on June 03 2010

Boronia fraseri Hook.

Shrub with pinnate leaves, with three or five narrowly lance-shaped leaflets, and axillary clusters of deep rose-coloured flowers.  To 1m.  [RHSD, FNSW].

Added on February 21 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 Nov 05, 2011 - 04:10 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 - 03:47 PM

Working Bee dates

Working Bee dates for 2012.

Published Jun 29, 2010 - 02:59 PM | Last updated Jan 10, 2012 - 04:19 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 - 01:58 PM | Last updated Jan 09, 2012 - 04:31 PM

Camellias at Camden Park

Most of the camellias grown at Camden Park are cultivars of Camellia japonica L., the ‘Common camellia’, a native of China, Korea and Japan.  The first plant introduced to Britain in 1739, and figured in Curtis's Botanical Magazine [BM t.42/1788], is close to the wild type.  It bears single red flowers in early spring but is rarely planted now and was not grown at Camden Park.  William Macarthur was an important breeder of camellias and many of the cultivars described in the Hortus were bred by him.  Unfortunately few of these have survived.  

Published Mar 13, 2010 - 01:43 PM | Last updated Jul 30, 2010 - 02:46 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine. Part 1: Introduction

‘Letters’ is an important book in the history of wine production in Australia and this is, I believe, the first time that the full text has been made available outside the major libraries. The value of William Macarthur’s book compared with earlier Colonial publications is that it is written from the perspective of over twenty years of experience of growing grapes and making wine in New South Wales. He does include theory from the pens of European authorities but the bulk of the book is written from personal experience. He is in effect saying ‘this is what we have found to work here’.

‘Letters’ is reproduced in 10 parts, beginning with the Introduction, which provides information on the history of the book and gives a synopsis of early experiences of vine importation and wine production.

Published Aug 27, 2010 - 05:50 PM | Last updated Nov 24, 2011 - 01:57 PM

Florists’ flowers

Floristry, in the 17th, 18th and 19th century meaning of the word, the growing and improvement of flowering plants for the sake of their beauty alone, has a long history in China and Asia but is of relatively recent origin in Europe.  From quite humble beginnings, the small scale leisure activity of artisans and labourers, it attracted the attention of the owners of the great pleasure gardens and botanic gardens of Europe.  Specialised nurseries began to appear to service great and small gardens, providing a means of disseminating the beautiful new varieties which the nurseries were both breeding and obtaining from enthusiastic amateurs.

Published Mar 12, 2010 - 02:41 PM | Last updated Jun 27, 2010 - 05:30 PM

Letters on the Culture of the Vine Part 5: Management and Replenishment of the Vineyard

Letters on the Culture of the Vine and Manufacture of Wine by Maro, pen-name of William Macarthur. Letters VII and VIII deal with the management of the vineyard after planting, the use of manures and the replenishment of an exhausted vineyard. The illustration used here is Macarthur’s Plate 2, a section of a vineyard. This is referred to in detail in Part 4, however it does illustrate the method of vine culture recommended and described here, the dwarf-standard method which at this time was practiced mostly in the north of France.

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 09, 2010 - 05:49 PM | Last updated Jul 21, 2011 - 11:15 AM