The first time I heard about Bob Hendley was through Jack Gott, you might have guessed, most of what I do today is  courtesy of Jack. He told me how he was almost sure Bob's father had worked for a firm up North called Oscroft's. Jack said he'd send me a copy of a CD he'd received from Bob explaining he was starting a new dahlia nursery called Fontmell Studio, I thought it was a bit of a mouthful, but quite a posh name. True to his word the CD arrived and sure enough the catalogue was presented better than any I had ever seen, it start off with an introduction explaining how the family had been involved with growing Large Gold Medals winning dahlias since 1960. During the 60's and early 70's they won more than 300 Gold and Large Gold Medals, and numerous Supreme Trophies. After a gap of some years, the youngest member of the team came back to the shows and immediately started to win Gold Medals and Trophies. Tell you what why don't I let you have Bob's email address and order line, so as you can order a copy of the Fontmell Studio 2005-2006 catalogue for yourself, and then you can read the rest of the fascinating story. The cultural notes are worth the price that the two first class stamps cost.

Email: bobsdahlias@hotmail.com   or Order line: 01258 473517Bob Hendley

 

Mean while I'll get cracking and get Bob's latest achievements on this his introductory page.

THE ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW SHEPTON MALLET

	The Fontmell's stand at The Royal Bath & West show at Shepton Mallet in the beginning of September.  Large Gold Medal.

Bob was telling me he had a very good response from the general public, and he thought far more people come through the Floral marquee than ever reach the National Dahlia Society Show.  I suppose this was enviable as most of these were general gardeners, looking for a bargain. I think we wanted more signs so the general public knew we were there. Take a look at this magnificent bowl of Kenora Lisa on it's own page.  Photo.  

	Now I'm not a great lover of  Fimbrated dahlias, but I tell you this one's a belter, with just the right name Kenora Spirit.

The light in the marquee was atrocious, but these are some of Bob's 2005 seedlings, he grows around one thousand five hundred seedling each year, and takes something like seven thousand cuttings. Makes my effort look a bit puny. So far none of these have names just numbers, but you can bet your bottom dollar most will have a Fontmell prefix.

THE FROME SHOW

	This was one he put up at Frome another Large Gold medal, this was one of his thirty footers.

	The same one head on, if  Bob had used a wide angled lens, he'd have got the whole stand in, thirty foot is a lot of  stand.

These stands involve a lot of hard work, Bob's seems to thrive on it, and he's been doing `em since he was a kid, they say he make more fuss when it's time to take them down.

I hope you have enjoy this diversion into the World of The Fontmell Studio,  you've seen some of this years displays, now read the catalogue  a give this comparatively new nursery a try, you'll be amazed when you start to grow the Kenora's.

TWO MORE OFF THE BOB HENDLEY ASSEMBLE LINE

	Seedling 236. A Medium Cactus I shouldn't wonder.		Seedling 495. What a colour, as they say to die for.

Ol' Bob sent these pry to getting ready to set up a stand in Berkshire, a thirty footer I shouldn't wonder, he was going to pick up about forty of my seedlings, but the weather was so atrocious, he rang saying he couldn't make it as he was literally soaked, his shirt was so wet he'd decided to take it off half way through the cut, that's dedication for you. He was pleased because he'd twice as many flowers as he had for the Shepton Mallet show. As soon as I get the photographs I'll add them to this page.

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