1st November

Red Admiral on an excellent late but unknown michaelmas daisy.

It is not often we reach 1st November without having a had a frost or some other sort of devastating weather, but here (at least) October has been generally quite kind and the garden has continued to produce a lot of interest and colour. The forecast suggests that we'll get a frost on Sunday night, so the end is nigh for the big display: these are few valedictory shots taken this morning before it started to rain.

Salvia curviflora has been flowering steadily for months.

Salvia uliginosa 'Ballon Azul' has paired beautifully with Symphyotrichum 'Ochtendgloren'

The border is still very colourful, although many things are on the wane.

Fuchsia 'Ian Storey'

The wigwam of Lathyrus 'Matucana' got a second wind and is now a colourful sight once more - it will give a fine bunch on Sunday afternoon.

The dandelion clock-like heads of Allium hookeri

Although flowering is over the heads of this Sanguisorba remain attractive.

And to remind us that we are going into winter, Galanthus reginae-olgae 'Sofia' has one flower fully developed and several noses to follow.