I expect like me you are ‘Chelsead’ out. Whether you went and wore out the shoe leather personally or watched the television coverage, you will have overdosed on plants. But despite all that gloom and doom the Credit Crunch Chelsea of 2009 blossomed. The sun came out. The Great Pavilion shone more spectacularly than ever and, although there were far fewer gardens, there was a lot to appreciate and I enjoyed it as much as ever.

Admittedly a dwarf named Borage (illegally exhibited by Jekka McVicar of Jekka’s Herbs) and a Plasticine garden (courtesy of Top Gear’s James May) stole the limelight. But the stars were the nurserymen who not only put together fantastic exhibits but often grew plants for the gardens too. Thankfully, specialist nurseries are doing well too in these difficult times.

Oxfordshire had its own Gold Medal winner – Stephen Hendry of Newington Nurseries. Based close to Stadhampton (between Oxford and Wallingford), this nursery specialises in larger specimens of exotic and unusual flora – from hardy bamboos, to striped phormiums, large-leaved palms, tree ferns and lots of rarities. They also serve lunch, coffee and clotted-cream teas. Stephen teamed up with the Cayman Islands to present an underwater garden complete with beach grotto, sandy shore, rocks and plants. The backdrop was a giant photograph of a real coral reef on the island.

The underwater garden was highly popular and it was given The President’s Award for the Most Creative Exhibit in the pavilion. This hasn’t been awarded for three years and Stephen Hendry, who has been exhibiting at Chelsea for over ten years, is now giving pride of place to his engraved glass vase. Next year’s exhibit is already under way and he wants to grab the monument stand!

Unfortunately the garden was also popular with an uninvited guest – a tame fox. Every evening at 11.30pm the fox (obviously a discerning character) headed straight for this exhibit and left footprints in the sand – before bedding down in the driftwood cave. He dug out lots of plants, and by Thursday evening he was dining on red peppers and yellow tomatoes taken from UK Horticulture. It took an hour’s tidying every morning to right the damage and make the underwater garden pristine. Luckily by Thursday most nurserymen were too tired to care. Well done Stephen!

Waddesdon Manor (midway between Aylesbury and Bicester) is holding a Rare and Unusual Plant Fair on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 4pm at the Plant Centre. Admission to the fair is free and stall holders include: n Aromafolia from Norfolk n Boutts from Worcestershire – Penstemons and scented violas n Browns Barn from Warwickshire – Alpines Home Farm Plants from Devon – Delphiniums n Kingston Herb Garden from Oxfordshire – Herbs and lavender n Little Heath Nursery from Berkshire – Shrubs and hardy plants n Pasture Farm Plants from Buckinghamshire – Cottage garden plants n Rose Cottage Plants from Essex – Summer bulbs and dahlias n Woodbridge Nursery from Oxon – Grasses.