Newsletter January 2024

Flower of the Month

Anthuriums

by Dr Bibiana Chan

Anthuriums (Anthurium andraeanum), commonly known as “laceleaf” or “flamingo flower,” are stunning tropical plants renowned for their vibrant, heart-shaped blooms and glossy, arrowhead-shaped leaves. To keep these botanical beauties thriving, it’s essential to provide them with the right care.

Care Instructions: Anthuriums flourish in bright, indirect light, making them ideal indoor plants. They can tolerate lower light levels, but their flowering may be affected. Keep them away from direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn. These plants thrive in a well-draining potting mix, such as orchid or aroid mix. Ensure the soil stays consistently moist but not waterlogged, as they dislike soggy conditions. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and be cautious not to let the roots sit in standing water.

Maintaining a humid environment is crucial for Anthuriums. Regular misting or placing the plant on a humidity tray can help. As for temperature, they prefer a warm, tropical climate and should be kept away from drafts or sudden temperature fluctuations.

Fertilize every 6-8 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Prune dead or yellowing leaves to encourage new growth and maintain the plant’s aesthetic appeal.

Fun Facts:

1. Heartfelt Blooms: The distinctive heart-shaped structure of Anthurium flowers isn’t actually a petal but a specialized leaf called a spathe. The true flowers are the tiny structures on the spike (spadix) within the spathe.

2. Air-Purifying Marvels: Anthuriums are not just visually appealing; they are excellent air purifiers. They can filter out pollutants like formaldehyde, ammonia, and xylene from the air, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

3. Rainforest Royalty: Anthuriums are native to the rainforests of Central and South America. In their natural habitat, they often grow as epiphytes, anchoring themselves to trees and absorbing nutrients from the air and rain.

4. Long-Lasting Blooms: With proper care, Anthurium flowers can last for several weeks, adding a touch of exotic elegance to your living space.

Incorporate these care tips and fun facts into your Anthurium journey for a flourishing and fascinating indoor garden experience.

Propagation of anthurium from leaves, planting anthurium in eggs 100% success

This is truly a very innovative way to propagate anthuriums. I may try it myself!

If you have 12 minute to spare, this video clip gives you a very comprehensive guide on different cultivars (varieties) of Anthuriums and care instructions.

Plant of the Month

Parlour Palm

by Bibi

The Parlour Palm, scientifically known as Chamaedorea elegans, is a popular and elegant indoor plant that adds a touch of tropical beauty to any space. Caring for this delightful plant is relatively straightforward, making it an excellent choice for both experienced and novice plant enthusiasts.

To ensure the optimal health of your Parlour Palm, it’s essential to provide it with the right conditions. This plant thrives in indirect light, making it perfect for spaces with filtered sunlight. It prefers well-draining soil and should be watered regularly, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so it’s crucial to strike a balance.

Maintaining a moderate level of humidity is beneficial for the Parlour Palm, mimicking its native tropical habitat. Regular misting or placing a humidifier nearby can help create the ideal environment for this plant to flourish. Additionally, occasional fertilization during the growing season can contribute to its overall well-being.

Fun facts about the Parlour Palm add an extra layer of fascination. Native to the rainforests of Southern Mexico and Guatemala, this plant is accustomed to a warm and humid climate. Its compact size and graceful, arching fronds make it a favorite choice for interior decoration. Interestingly, the Parlour Palm is not only visually appealing but also known for its air-purifying qualities, helping to improve indoor air quality by removing toxins.

In terms of symbolism, the Parlour Palm is associated with peace and tranquility, making it a meaningful gift for various occasions. With its relatively low maintenance requirements and aesthetic appeal, the Parlour Palm has earned its place as a beloved addition to homes and offices around the world, bringing a touch of nature’s elegance to indoor spaces.

Parlour Palm Plant Care & Growing Guide in 3 minutes. The knowledge can be transferred to caring for other tropical plants. 

If you would like to avoid brown and yellow leaves in the Parlour Palm, watch this video until the end and pick up a few handy tips. You can maintain lush green leaves in the Australian climate.

Recipe of the Month

‘Tang Yuen’ (湯圓) – glutinous rice balls recommended by Mabel M. Recipe borrowed from Kitchen Misadventures.                      Traditional homemade glutinous rice balls with black sesame stuffing to celebrate Winter Solstice in Northern Hemispheres and beginning of summer in Downunder in Australia

It is also a timely recipe to welcome the Year of the Dragon on Sat 10/2/24! This traditional dessert symbolises reunion and harmony among family members (especially for those who returned home from afar to celebrate New Year).

Ingredients:

Filling:
100 g of black sesame seeds
20 g of peanuts
25 g of sugar
45 g of butter
45 g of water

Dough:
400 g of glutinous rice flour
300 g of warm water
Glutinous rice flour for dusting

INSTRUCTIONS 

Make The Filling

• Blend the black sesame seeds, peanuts, and sugar in a blender or food processor.
• After blending, mix in melted butter and water.
• Mix well and freeze for 5 minutes.
• Afterward, shape the filling into 9g balls and put it back again in the freezer.

Knead The Dough

• Combine the glutinous rice flour with warm water.
• Knead until you form a semi-solid dough.
• Take 1/4 of the dough, flatten it, and boil it in water for 3 minutes.
• Then, combine the cooked dough with the remaining dough. In this way, you get an even chewier dough.
• Knead the dough and roll it into a log.
• Divide it into small portions of about 13g each. Use a dough cutter or knife to cut the dough.

Assemble The Tang Yuan

• Take each piece of dough and flatten it into a small circular wrapper.
• Place the black sesame filling in the center, seal it, and shape it into balls. As you do this step, you can dust the surface with flour to prevent the balls from sticking.
• Cook in simmering water for 5 minutes until they float.
• Serve the balls in a bowl and pour hot water used for boiling the balls.
• Enjoy this hot or cold, the perfect dessert for winter or summer!

Book Review

By Kim Wilkins

Restless Dolly Maunder – Kate Grenville

This is the latest novel from one of Australia’s best novelists, Kate Grenville. I have previously reviewed her most famous book, ‘The Secret River,’ which is considered one of the nation’s classic novels, has won numerous local and overseas awards, and has been adapted to the stage and into a TV series. Restless Dolly Maunder is based on the life of the author’s maternal grandmother. Dolly was born in the late nineteenth century and grew up as part of a large family on a small sheep farm in rural NSW, where she is expected to get married and lead a totally domestic life on the land. But Dolly wants something more. It is obviously well-researched and provides an entertaining look at life in Sydney and the NSW country in the first part of the 20th century. Most of us know so little of our own history; it is always compelling to have an insight into a bygone era. Indeed, Dolly’s journey is a little predictable in line with the major events of Australia’s history. In my case, there are a few similarities with my own mother who grew up in ‘the Bush’ and then made a life in Sydney, although not with the roller coaster ride Dolly experiences. The book was published in 2023 and is 242 engrossing pages. It has typically good character development. If you want an enjoyable and easy read and want to know more about this country’s social history, try this book.

The book is not “heavy”, although perhaps there are a little too many descriptions and names of friends and relatives. This is the only criticism I have, as it is well- written and an easy read. I recommend this as a necessary read if you have a child at school and an interesting read for everyone.

From the Desk of Bibi

Friendship over nearly 4 decades

by Dr Bibiana Chan

Last Nov, I talked about the significance of human connection as a key to a healthy and meaningful life. This month, I’d like to share a real-life story of a friendship that has endured for 39 years. Connie and I first crossed paths through her younger brother, Victor, who attended the same church as mine. At that time, I was an overseas student searching for accommodation for the upcoming term. Connie, in turn, was seeking students to occupy her spare bedroom—for both the extra income and, more importantly, the companionship. The ‘connection’ was immediate when I inspected her house with a fellow student from Hong Kong.

Numerous events unfolded over the past decades. Connie united with her partner, I got married and returned to Hong Kong for work, yet our friendship remained loosely connected with occasional visits. When I migrated to Sydney in 1992 (after witnessing the Tiananmen Massacre on TV), we rekindled our connection. Our children became instant playmates, and I fondly recall one visit where Connie’s younger daughter, at the age of five, impressed me with her sophisticated drawings.

Connie’s elder daughter shares a birthday close to my son’s, and we used to celebrate their birthdays together in style with poolside parties. There was a brief period of lost contact when our circumstances changed, I was preoccupied with pursuing my studies, and Connie was diligent in sharing the gospel with those she encountered.

In 2019, I needed co-leaders for my debut Laughter Yoga Class at the Eastwood Chinese Senior Citizen Club, part of a Mental Health Month Special Program. Coincidentally, I reconnected with Connie, and she generously offered her help. This marked the founding of CFS. Connie became a dedicated member, actively participating in many of CFS’ Creative Workshops and assisting with packing and washing up. She ardently promoted CFS activities within her circle of friends. This year, she played a crucial role in setting up a successful Mother’s Day Pop-up Stall with a harbour-front view at HSBC’s Barangaroo Headquarters. She arrived at Willoughby from Auburn at 8 am to help pack everything into the car boot. The day before, she assisted me in creating elegant Mother’s Day bouquets. Without her support, this pop-up stall would not have been possible.

In 2023, we both reached a milestone and celebrated significant birthdays. Despite the age gap between us, it only adds to the richness of our friendship. We draw from our diverse life experiences, sharing stories and life lessons. One day, we hope to sit down over a cup of tea and pen a book documenting our decades-long friendship.

During the summer break, I encourage you to pick up your phone and arrange a face-to-face meeting with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. I bet you’ll be able to pick up right where you left off last time. Cherish the human connection, which cannot be replaced by AI!       

With reference to a Harvard longitudinal research on adult development and happiness, I mentioned about this grid on ‘sources of support in my life’ in the Nov 2023 e-Newsletter. I filled in my relationship with Connie. We ticked all the boxes but could definitely do more fun stuff together beyond the CFS creative workshops!

Subscriber’s Corner

友誼永固 (Friendship Forever)

by Connie Ma

There is a Chinese saying: ‘Know yourself and the enemy and fight a hundred battles without danger.’ Bibi and I have known each other for almost four decades. At that time, she was an overseas student, and we met over some rental matters. I became her ‘landlady.’ As Cantonese is our mother tongue (同聲同氣 tóng shēng tóng qì, literally means ‘with the same voice, with the same breath’), our conversation covered a wide range of topics.

Since everyone got married and had children, we were too busy, and we hardly saw each other. However, when our children went to high school, they used to celebrate their birthdays together, as Bibi’s son, Jon, is only one week older than my daughter, Carmen. We both took great pride in seeing them grow up to be sensible young people.

Bibi then moved a few times, and I also moved. Our contacts became infrequent. Out of the blue, she invited me to attend her doctoral graduation ceremony; I was so touched. It was just like the joy of a big sister seeing a younger sister overcome a huge obstacle (in Bibi’s own words, ‘climbed Mount Everest’) and make her dream come true.

In recent years, since I have retired, I can use my time more freely. When I learned that Bibi is starting a not-for-profit social enterprise, ‘Community Flower Studio’ (CFS), to reach out to young people with mental health challenges, I was touched by her passion and perseverance. Especially during COVID-19, she made great efforts to keep CFS running.

One of the objectives of CFS is to provide a space where young people feel safe and relaxed and get to know other people facing similar challenges in life. With more empathy and compassion, they offer help and support for each other, thereby regaining confidence and becoming contributing members of society.

When reading to this point, you might wonder, what is the biggest social impact of involving yourself with CFS? It’s about establishing mutual trust, understanding, and empathy. Connect with each other through active listening, love, and kindness! Thus, step out of your comfort zone and offer a helping hand to someone in need at any time.

中國有句俗話：「知己知彼，百戰不殆」。我和Bibi相識至相交差不多四十蛓。 當時因為她是海外留學生，因租屋事宜而認識, 我就成為她的包租姐。  所謂同聲同氣， (由於粵語是我們的母語)，話題就更多。 由於大家都結婚生子了，我們都很忙，很少見面。 然而，當我們的孩子上高中時，他們常常一起慶祝生日，因為 Bibi 的兒子只比我的女兒 Carmen 大 1 週。 看到他們成長為懂事的年輕人，我們都感到非常自豪。Bibi後來搬家幾次，我也搬家了。 我們的聯繫變得越來越少。當有一天她突然邀請我參加她的博士畢業典禮時我好感動，就如一個大姐姐見到一個妹妹排除困難， 夢想成真那般喜悅 (用Bibi自己的話說 “好像登上珠穆朗瑪峰”)!最近幾年因已退休，時間運用也比較自由。 當我得知Bibi正在創辦一家非營利社會企業「Community Flower Studio」（CFS）來幫助有心理健康挑戰的年輕人時，我被她的熱情和毅力所感動。 尤其是在COVID-19期間，她為保持CFS的運作付出了很大的努力。CFS的目標之一是提供一個讓年輕人感到安全和輕鬆的空間，並結識其他在生活中面臨類似挑戰的人。 他們懷著更多的同理心和同情心，互相幫助和支持。 從而重拾信心，成為對社會有貢獻的一員。讀到這裡，您會想知道參與 CFS 最大的得着是什麼？就是就是彼此信任，了解和建立同理心， 用愛連接大家分擔需要。因此，讓我們走出自己的‘comfort zone’ (舒適區)，隨時向有需要的人伸出援手。

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