A Moray community is in the running to be crowned one of the most picturesque in the country.
Judges from Keep Scotland Beautiful yesterday visited Dufftown to inspect its floral displays as part of a quest to decide on the best neighbourhood gardening group in the land.
The Moray town is one of 46 communities across Scotland taking part in the campaign.
Secretary of Dufftown in Bloom, Anne Fraser, said she and her fellow horticultural enthusiasts had taken the judges on an extensive tour of the town’s most scenic spots.
However, the inscrutable inspectors, who had travelled from North Berwick for the occasion, gave nothing away.
She said: “The judges seemed interested in what we had to say, but I have no idea as to what they were most impressed by – they really kept that to themselves.
“We showed them around our brackets and planters, but more than just the quality of the flowers and displays they were keen to learn about the community effort behind it all.”
The Dufftown in Bloom group showed the judges the town’s square, along Fife Street and around its local distilleries.
Ms Fraser added: “We were exhausted by the time we finished taking the judges around everywhere, but it was important to show them the whole thing, and just how the community here comes together.
“We also explained about how we involve local school kids, and the things we do during the winter to keep the place looking nice.”
The winning community will be crowned at an awards ceremony in Perth this September.
Last year the Dufftown group represented Scotland in the large village category of the UK Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom finals.