Newsletter August 2025

Flower of the Month

Hyacinths

By Bibi

Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are a favourite among springtime gardeners. Native to the eastern Mediterranean, these bulbs are prized for their dazzling hues—ranging from deep purple and pink to white, blue, and yellow. I was first drawn to hyacinths by their strong, sweet fragrance—so distinctive that you can smell them before you see them! Among all their vibrant colours, I love the purple blooms best. I’ll definitely be ordering some hyacinth bulbs next year to grow at home.

🌿 Care Tips:

Hyacinths are springtime favourites known for their bold colours and heavenly scent. Here’s how to care for them:

1. Sunlight: Plant them where they get full sun to partial shade—perfect for a sunny garden spot or a bright windowsill.
2. Soil: They thrive in well-drained soil. In pots, use quality potting mix and ensure good drainage to avoid bulb rot.
3. Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Be careful not to over water, especially while blooming.
4. Feeding: No need to fertilize while blooming, but a bulb fertilizer after flowering helps store energy for next year.
5. After Bloom: Let the leaves die back naturally so the bulb can store nutrients. Once foliage yellows and dries, you can dig up and store the bulbs in a cool, dark place until autumn planting.
6. Indoor Forcing: Want an early splash of colour indoors? Chill bulbs in the fridge for 10–12 weeks before potting them up to “force” early blooms.

Fun Facts:

Symbolism: Hyacinths symbolize rebirth, sincerity, and peace. Different colors carry different meanings—blue for constancy, purple for sorrow, red for playfulness.

A myth in every petal: Hyacinths are named after a Greek legend—when the young Hyacinthus died tragically, Apollo created the flower in his memory. Fragrance royalty: These blooms are famous for their intense, sweet scent, often used in perfumes and sachets.

A rainbow of choices: Hyacinths come in pink, blue, white, yellow, red, and (my favourite!) deep purple.

Bee-loved: Their early-spring nectar is a treat for bees and other pollinators.

Check out the YouTube clip at the end to learn more techniques.   How to Force Hyacinths in Soil and Water

For a limited time only, ‘Pregnant Onion’ is available for sale at the CFS Flower Shop.

Plant of the Month

Aptenia Cordifolia

By Bibi

Aptenia Cordifolia, also known as Baby Sun Rose or Heartleaf Ice Plant. It is a charming, fast-spreading succulent that’s ideal for hanging baskets, rockeries, and sunny ground cover. Native to South Africa, this plant is loved for its fleshy heart-shaped leaves and bright magenta or red-pink daisy-like flowers.

🌞 Care Instructions:

Sunlight: Aptenia thrives in full sun to partial shade. The more sun it receives, the more vibrant its blooms.

Watering: Water sparingly—it’s drought-tolerant and stores moisture in its leaves. Over watering can cause root rot.

Soil: Prefers well-draining soil, such as sandy or gritty types. Avoid heavy clay.

Temperature: It enjoys warm weather and can tolerate mild frosts, but prolonged cold may damage it.

Pruning: Trim regularly to maintain shape and encourage denser growth. It recovers quickly from pruning.

Propagation: Super easy! Just snip a healthy stem, let it callous for a day, then replant—it roots readily in soil.

Fun Facts:

• Edible & Medicinal: In some cultures, the leaves are used in traditional medicine and salads (always confirm safety before consuming).
• Pollinator Friendly: The flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it a cheerful addition to pollinator gardens.
• Fast Spreader: Its trailing habit makes it an excellent ground stabilizer and weed suppressor on slopes or sandy areas.
• Heart-Shaped Leaves: The name cordifolia literally means “heart-leaved,” a nod to its sweet, plump foliage.
• Water-wise Wonder: Perfect for water-restricted gardens—minimal care, maximum charm!

Aptenia cordifolia is a fuss-free, sun-loving succulent that rewards gardeners with lush green mats and bursts of color. Whether in pots or cascading over walls, it’s a delightful and practical choice for sustainable landscaping. 2 ways to propagate baby sun rose cuttings

Book Review

 B Is for Books: A Beautiful, Bold, and Brilliant Literary Escape

By Ravia Khan (originally published in LinkedIn)

Over the past three months, I’ve been reading books from countries beginning with the letter B, not as a fun challenge, but as part of an ongoing effort to diversify the voices and perspectives that shape my thinking.


From Bahamas to Bhutan, I found myself sitting with stories shaped by history, colonialism, and resilience. And the theme that kept coming up louder with every chapter was the relationship between language and power.


Some books were hard to track down. Not because they don’t exist, but because they don’t get attention. They haven’t been translated, promoted, or stocked on the right shelves. In some cases, entire literary traditions are invisible in global reading lists. It made me question: whose voices get amplified, and whose are left out entirely?


Many of these “B” countries were once colonies. And that legacy continues to shape the stories that are told and those that aren’t. Stories of migration, trauma, memory, survival, and joy. Stories that resist erasure. Stories that aren’t neat or easy to digest but are all the more powerful for it.
This wasn’t just about ticking countries off a list. It was about pushing against the gravitational pull of dominant narratives. About being uncomfortable. And about finding beauty, boldness, and brilliance in places the literary mainstream often overlooks.

I’ve still got eight more B countries to go and I’m curious what patterns, voices, and challenges will emerge next.

If you’ve read something from a “B” country that stayed with you, I’d love to hear it.

Recipe of the Month

The Best Vegan Banana Bread you’ll ever eat by Ambitious Kitchen. Photo credit: Teresa Lam.

• For the wet ingredients:
• 3 medium to large extra ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ⅓ cup mashed banana)
• ⅓ cup (75g) melted and cooled coconut oil
• ½ cup (107g) packed brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
• ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons dairy free milk of choice
• For the dry ingredients:
• 1 ¾ cup (210g) all purpose flour*
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch (215 mm x 110 mm) pan with parchment paper and grease the inside of the pan to prevent sticking.
• In a large bowl mix together the mashed banana, brown sugar, coconut oil, vanilla extract and milk to a bowl until well combined.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix; it’s totally fine if there are some lumps of banana, etc. Feel free to fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or ½ cup chocolate chips (or both!) if you’d like.

From the Desk of Bibi

Understanding Biodegradable Coffee Cups and Their Role in a Circular Economy

By Dr Bibiana Chan

In recent years, the rise of biodegradable coffee cups has marked an important shift in reducing our environmental footprint. Traditionally, disposable cups are made with paper coated in polyethylene plastic, making them waterproof but also non-recyclable and non-biodegradable in most waste systems. These cups often end up in landfills or incinerators, contributing to pollution and carbon emissions. However, innovative technologies from companies like NatureWorks and Smart Planet Technologies are changing this narrative.

At the heart of these biodegradable cups is a new kind of lining — made from plant-based materials, such as PLA (polylactic acid) or mineral-filled biopolymer coatings. NatureWorks’ Ingeo™ 1102 is a compostable bio‑polymer derived from renewable plant sugars, allowing cups to be industrially composted or recycled. Smart Planet’s EarthCoating® uses mineral additives to maintain recyclability in existing paper streams.

The environmental benefits are significant. By switching to compostable or recyclable cups, we reduce landfill waste, minimize microplastic contamination, and lower the carbon footprint associated with single‑use packaging. These cups also replace fossil‑fuel derived coatings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions over their life cycle compared to traditional alternatives .

But to build a truly circular economy, it’s not enough to recycle alone — we must also support the market for recycled materials. This means buying products made from recycled content, closing the loop from consumption back to production. Brands like icare, which produce tissue paper from 100% recycled paper, help drive demand for recycled fibre. Each purchase signals to manufacturers and waste‑management systems that recycled material has value — and that investing in collection and processing infrastructure pays off.

Continue reading here.

Subscriber’s Corner

Being a Volunteer at CFS

By Anna Roukchan.

On Saturday 17th May, I attended the Mindfulness Botanical Painting workshop as part of an introduction to being a volunteer at CFS for my Duke of Edinburgh. It was interesting to see how these activities are planned out, and what sort of work goes into it. I also went to a meeting to discuss the ‘Secret Garden’ project to help co-design and plan.

It reinforced my knowledge of the time, effort and hard work that goes into preparing for such events. I learn more about how companies and charities budget and use money, how to get quotes, and what factors (unit price, delivery, overall cost, etc) go into buying bulk products.

I really appreciate that I’ve been provided with so much insight already.

Greetings from Teresa Lam while visiting USA.

A message from Dr Emily Heilscher.

Hi Bibi. Great to hear from you 🙂

Thanks for sharing the latest CFS newsletter – it was a great read! It sounds like the new book club and PTSD pop up stall were big hits. And thanks for sharing your piece about the Cassius Turvey case. I remember that being mentioned in the news, really heartbreaking. You’ve inspired me today. I will be buying myself a bouquet of beautiful flowers. Have a wonderful day and week 🙂