I work a few miles inland, close to a river and tidal marsh (AKA Soggy
Bottom) and although there was no indication of ground frost this
morning, grass temp was just 3C at 7am. Here the min was 10C so no
great chill here on the coast. I've noticed that the intensity of the
sun seems remarkably fierce so late in the year. I'm used to being
out in the sun all of the time, but the strength surprised me both
yesterday and today. As usual it clouded over this afternoon, but
seems to be clearing at the moment.

Just looking from our bedroom window we have Romneya, Cimicifuga, Fuchsias,
Dahlias, Helianthus, Crinums, Salvias still flowering well.

A big clump of Crinum moorei 'Album' is carrying about a dozen 5 foot
stems laden with 6" wide flowers, Hedychium 'Tara' (nudge, nudge) is
flowering again on secondary stems that shot up in August and H. sp.
Forrestii (hort.) is still out, spilling its faint, narcissus-like
scent into the air. Jasminum polyanthum is again smothered in red-
budded, large white flowers and the fragrance from that is almost
overpowering. I much prefer this to the more reliably hardy J.
officinale, which has much smaller flowers and a shorter flowering
season. Here it gets everywhere and roots into the ground whenever a
stem touches the soil. In a way it's a rampant nuisance, but it
really pays its rent and then some by being almost permanently in
flower.

Nerine bowdenii seems rather late this year and the sugar pink flower
buds are only now beginning to open a good month later than usual
It's been soundly beaten by a stunning, brick red sarniense hybrid
that has been out and looking very good for at least 10 days.
Normally a late October/early November bloomer, Nerine flexuosa 'Alba'
is also about to open and I'm very much looking forward to its
glistening, crystalline white flowers with crisped and wavy petals and
sepals.