YOU wait months for a plant sale to be held in Helensburgh - and then, just like buses, two turn up almost at once.

Well, maybe not quite. But hard on the heels of the azalea festival, and accompanying plant sale, held in Hermitage Park at the start of the month and featured in the Advertiser last week, came the eagerly-awaited Helensburgh and Gareloch Horticultural Society (HGHS) event on Saturday morning.

Covid safety requirements meant that instead of the warm and dry surroundings of the Victoria Halls, the event’s usual home, this year’s sale was held on a rather overcast day in the town’s James Street community garden, with conditions growing increasingly dreich as the morning went on.

But it takes much more than a few drops of rain to deter the hardy Helensburgh gardener, and there were plenty of green-fingered locals on hand eager to snap up the perfect addition to their garden - and to make a contribution towards the society’s running costs at the same time.

READ MORE: Green for go at Hermitage Park's plant festival

Tom Stewart, the chair of the society, said: “Despite the weather being unseasonably cold and with the threat of rain materialising, the crowd was extremely patient and good- humoured as they waited their turn to get into the garden.

“Business was brisk and the extensive range of plants proved popular with the buyers.

“I would like to record the society’s thanks to the trustees of James Street Community Garden for allowing us to use their facility, to all the helpers who turned out on a miserable day, to everyone who donated plants, and to all those who supported the event by coming along and buying our plants.”

Meanwhile, again due to Covid, for the second year running HGHS will hold its annual show virtually this August.

Find out more about the classes, and how to enter, at helensburghhorti.com.