COUNCIL gardeners are forging ahead with their summer planting programme, despite recent unseasonal weather.
Richmondshire District Council has taken delivery of more than 11,000 bedding plants.
Staff are now busy preparing 15 sites across the district for a splash of summer colour.
Dave Lodge, who is in charge of grounds maintenance, said: "Two of the team prepare the ground and then three of us do the planting.
"From a small horse trough in Richmond to council-run sheltered housing in Leyburn and Bainbridge, we'll be there to put in the plants and keep them under control throughout the summer for the enjoyment of visitors and residents."
The jewel in the council's horticultural crown is Richmond's Friary Gardens.
About 8,000 individual plants are arranged with military precision into the 22 beds and borders in the space of just three days.
At the end of the season, the team will pull out the plants and replace them with 11,000 bulbs and a similar number of new bedding plants ready for the spring flower displays.
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