IT'LL be hard to do, but the Dartmouth in Bloom committee is hoping to eclipse its past efforts to make the town look at its floral best for the expected influx of visitors during August.
The town has had a long-running love affair with the Britain in Bloom competition, having won the competition and been highly placed on many occasions.
For 1999, with hundreds of thousands of people due to arrive in the West Country to see the solar eclipse, committee chairman, Ken Goodwin, says his team have organised high impact displays throughout the town.
There will be almost 100 hanging baskets on pedestals and lamp posts, the Boatfloat harbour will be surrounded with floral roundels, as well as large manger baskets on the harbour wall.
Visitors will be greeted at the entrance to the town by five flowerbeds – the combined efforts of Dartmouth in Bloom, the scouts, the guides, the sea cadets and the horticultural society.
Dazzling and colourful displays will be found, as usual, in the large star display at the bottom of College Way and in the triangle near the higher ferry.
Mr Goodwin said: 'This, of course, is only what the Dartmouth in Bloom team do.
'There is also a magnificent contribution provided by the Dartmouth community in general.
'For example the residents produce outstanding displays of flowers in Newport Street, on Browns Hill, Clarence Hill, Holdsworth House and many other streets.
'And the business people in the town make outstanding contributions through sponsorship and displays outside their premises. You should see the pubs!'
Mr Goodwin also paid tribute to the efforts put into the town's floral displays by South Hams Council.
He said: 'Each year it makes a special effort to ensure that the Royal Avenue Gardens and parks are at their best for the judging day, despite the thousands of visitors using them.
'Dartmouth is always litter-free and well cleansed.'