Newsletter Nov 2026

Flower of the Month

Bellis Perennis

By Bibi

Bellis perennis: Small Flowers, Big Impact!

I first fell in love with Bellis perennis, commonly known as the English daisy, at this year’s Floriade Flower Show in Canberra. The tiny, rounded, pompom-like flower heads in shades of pink, red and white were simply irresistible!

Planted in dense clusters, they created an intense carpet of colour, beautifully complementing the magnificent tulips. The landscape designers certainly knew how to make these little flowers shine!

The following week, I spotted them again at Flemington Flower Market. They were plentiful, affordable and clearly enjoying their spring season!

 Care

Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade. In Sydney, some afternoon shade helps during warmer weather.

Soil: Grows best in fertile, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, particularly during establishment.

Flowering: Blooms mainly during the cooler months and spring. Regularly removing faded flowers encourages more blooms.

Propagation: Easily grown from seeds or by dividing established clumps.

Garden design: Perfect for borders, pots, window boxes and mass plantings. Try combining them with tulips, pansies or forget-me-nots for a colourful spring display.

Fun Facts!

The name Bellis comes from the Latin word for “beautiful”, while perennis means “everlasting” or “perennial”.

Despite their delicate appearance, English daisies are surprisingly hardy. They are botanically perennial but are often grown as cool-season annuals in Australia’s warmer regions.

Their flowers are actually made up of many tiny florets clustered together, creating what appears to be a single flower!

Fun Facts!

The name Bellis comes from the Latin word for “beautiful”, while perennis means “everlasting” or “perennial”.

Despite their delicate appearance, English daisies are surprisingly hardy. They are botanically perennial but are often grown as cool-season annuals in Australia’s warmer regions.

Their flowers are actually made up of many tiny florets clustered together, creating what appears to be a single flower!

Small but Mighty!

Perhaps the greatest charm of Bellis perennis is how these tiny flowers, when planted together, create such a spectacular display. A lovely reminder that small things can make a big difference when they come together — just like our community at CFS!

Here are the sketches of two flower beds in 2026 Floriade with Tulips and different colours of Bellios. The landscape architects did a brilliant job! Can you recognise any pattern from this ‘bird’s eye view’?

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

Plant of the Month

 Geranium

By Bibi

Geraniums are among the most cheerful and rewarding plants to grow. With their vibrant flowers, attractive foliage and minimal maintenance needs, they are perfect for both experienced gardeners and beginners.

A Rainbow of Colour

Geraniums come in an amazing range of colours, including red, pink, salmon, orange, purple and white. Some varieties have two-toned flowers, while others feature beautiful variegated leaves with shades of green, cream, bronze and even burgundy. They brighten balconies, garden beds and hanging baskets.

Care Tips

• Sunlight: Geraniums generally love sunshine! Give them around 4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily, although some varieties appreciate afternoon shade during Sydney’s hot summers.
• Watering: Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings. Avoid waterlogging, as soggy roots can cause rot.
• Soil: Use well-draining potting mix or garden soil. Good drainage is essential.
• Pruning: Remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves regularly to encourage healthy growth and more blooms.
• Propagation: One of the joys of geraniums is how easily they grow from stem cuttings. Take a healthy cutting, remove the lower leaves and plant it in free-draining potting mix. Keep it lightly moist until roots develop.

Fun Facts!

Did you know that many plants we call geraniums are actually Pelargoniums, originally from southern Africa?

Some scented varieties release delightful fragrances when their leaves are gently rubbed. Depending on the variety, you may detect rose, lemon, peppermint or even apple!

Certain culinary varieties are also used to flavour herbal teas and desserts. Always confirm that a plant is an edible variety before using it in food or drinks.

A Little Plant, A Lot of Joy!

Geraniums are wonderful plants to share with friends and neighbours. A simple cutting can grow into a beautiful flowering plant, spreading colour, kindness and connection throughout our community.

At CFS, we love flowers that give us more than beauty – they give us opportunities to learn, create, connect and have fun.

Geranium petals and leaves were both used in this year’s Mindfulness Hammering Flowers on Totes Workshop. The colourful dyes in the blooms and leaves were very well transferred.

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Movie Review

By Wing C.

Review of the BBC Series The Capture directed by Ben Chanan

The Capture (Season 2)

Available on ABC iView.

What makes The Capture particularly compelling is that it goes beyond a conventional crime thriller. Beneath the clever plots, unexpected twists and suspense, it raises some disturbing questions about truth, power, surveillance, technology and the manipulation of public perception.

For me, its most interesting question is: in an age when images and videos can be manipulated, how do we know what — and whom — to believe?

This is especially relevant to our everyday lives, including the information we encounter on social media. When I came across footage on Facebook showing devastating floods in Nepal sweeping away houses and everything along the riverbank, my first reaction was to wonder: “Is this AI-generated?” I couldn’t trace the original source, which made me even more cautious.

I am very impressed with the diversity of the cast: Asian, South Asians and African actors/actress. Both the quality of its storytelling and the representation of people from culturally diverse backgrounds were exceptional. Who decided to use such a culturally diverse cast?

One of the most fascinating aspects of The Capture is the complex love-hate relationship between two highly intelligent women: the young detective Rachel Carey and the experienced intelligence officer Gemma Garland. Carey is determined to uncover the truth, while Garland believes that manipulating evidence can sometimes be justified in the name of national security.

Interestingly, I found myself feeling some sympathy for Garland. Could she once have been an idealistic young detective, just like Carey, determined to bring criminals to justice? Perhaps years of working within the system taught her to accept compromises. She advised Carey that ‘You have to accept the fact that you might not see the full picture in your investigation’. Even when innocent people became collateral damage. I wonder whether Garland saw her younger self in Carey. Their relationship reminded me that human behaviour is rarely simply black or white. We can understand someone’s motivations without necessarily agreeing with their actions.

Further reading: Has Australia reached the limits of representation? Moving diversity from television screens to demographic control

Recipe of the Month

Pumpkin Falafel

Inspired by Coles online recipe.

Any left over pumpkins from Halloween? Try these tasty homemade air fryer pumpkin falafels.

Ingredients

• 500g Kent pumpkin, seeded, peeled, chopped, seeds reserved for another use
• 1/2 cup (100g) dried chickpeas, soaked overnight, drained
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp rind, finely grated, grated
• 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
• 1/4 cup eaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbs pistachio dukkah
• 2 tsp white sesame seeds
• 2 tsp black sesame seeds
• 350g pkt Coles Kitchen Superfood Slaw
• 1 tbs lemon juice
• 4 pita breads, halved, toasted

Method:

1. Place pumpkin in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and cook in microwave on high for 8-10 mins or until tender.

2. Place chickpeas in a food processor with garlic, cumin, coriander and lemon rind and process until a coarse paste forms. Transfer to a large bowl.

3. Place pumpkin in food processor and process until smooth. Add to chickpea mixture in the bowl with flour, parsley and baking powder. Season and stir well to combine. Place in the fridge for 1 hour or until firm.

4. Shape 2-tbs portions of the chickpea mixture into balls and place on a baking tray.

5. Combine the dukkah and sesame seeds in a shallow bowl. Press falafels into dukkah mixture to evenly coat. Return to the tray.

6. Lightly grease air fryer basket. Place half the falafels in a single layer in the prepared basket. Spray with olive oil spray and cook at 200°C, turning occasionally, for 10 mins or until golden and heated through. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining falafels.

From the Desk of Bibi

Kindness in an Increasingly Hostile World

By Dr Bibiana Chan

As Mental Health Month draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the world we live in. With World Kindness Day approaching on 13 November, perhaps there has never been a more important time to talk about kindness.

The horrific attack on the Hon. Dr Helen Haines MP shocked many people, including my friends in Vancouver and London, who heard the news from the other side of the world. As the investigation continues, questions remain about the motive behind the alleged attack. Reports about possible mental health challenges have also emerged, raising concerns about premature assumptions and the stigma that can follow. Mindframe published a media alert about safe reporting of the alleged attacker.

As someone with lived experience of mental illness and many years of mental health advocacy, I believe we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions. Mental health challenges should not automatically be used to explain violence. Most people living with mental illness are not violent, and careless assumptions can cause further harm to an already stigmatised community.

Yet, beyond the headlines, I find myself wondering about the human stories we may never fully understand.

Looking beyond the headlines

When the Bondi Junction tragedy occurred in April 2024, I wrote an open letter to the parents of the attacker, Mr and Mrs Cauchi. I wanted to acknowledge their unimaginable suffering while remembering the victims and everyone whose lives had been devastated.

I wondered whether there had been gaps in the mental health system and whether more could have been done before the tragedy occurred. These are difficult questions, and we must be careful not to assume that we know all the answers.

Now, confronted with another horrific incident, I find myself asking similar questions. We can feel compassion for someone who may have been struggling without excusing harmful actions. We can stand firmly with victims while recognising that the families of those accused of causing harm may also be suffering.

Compassion and accountability are not mutually exclusive.

This brings me to another concern. Social media has become a major source of news for many people, particularly young people. Information travels around the world within seconds, but misinformation, sensational headlines and speculation can travel just as quickly.

How often do we stop to ask: Who published this information? Is it verified? Am I reading a fact or someone’s interpretation? And could sharing it cause unnecessary harm?

In an age of artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated digital content, critical thinking is more important than ever. Before sharing a story, perhaps we could pause long enough to check its source and consider its consequences.

Belonging: turning perceived weaknesses into strengths

Recently, I co-facilitated a Stand Up Against Racism workshop. Listening to participants from different cultural backgrounds reminded me how important a sense of belonging is to our wellbeing.

During the discussions, participants shared their strengths. I invited them to consider another possibility: what if some of the things mainstream society perceives as our weaknesses could actually be our strengths?

Take our accents, for example. Rather than feeling embarrassed about speaking English differently, we can recognise that many of us speak multiple languages and understand different cultures. These are valuable assets in international trade, business and multicultural communities such as Burwood, where the workshop was held, and Chatswood, where Community Flower Studio is based.

We don’t have to erase our differences to belong. We need a society that recognises and values what each of us brings.

This reflection also made me think about young people. Some seek comfort through online gaming, social media or AI companions. These activities are not necessarily signs of indifference; they may also reflect a need for connection, understanding and belonging.

Through Community Flower Studio, I have met young people who demonstrate empathy, creativity and a genuine desire to make a difference. Perhaps, rather than assuming young people no longer care, we should ask whether we are creating enough opportunities for them to feel connected, heard and empowered to contribute.

Click HERE to continue reading.

Subscriber’s Corner

Reflection of a MCA Visit ‘Not A Souvenier Karen G.

The MCA exhibition – Not A Souvenir shows us how racism is present everywhere. Cultures are used as decoration, which highlights the oppressive history of Australia. The exhibition contains over 3,500 pieces of Aboriginalia that expresses this, as well as a hands-on part where you cut playing cards, which plays a large role in most of Tony Albert’s art.

Reflections of Cha & Coffee Chat at Chatswood

By Henry G.

At the CFS coffee and chat event, I facilitated a game of U Shape Us. Almost every player was a stranger to me, and the goal was very simple: to get to know each other in a short amount of time.

It worked better than I expected. Nobody had to come up with an icebreaker or a “good” story, because the cards did all the prompting. Very quickly, we were sharing things about our childhood, current events, past experiences, travel destinations, and more.

Overall, the U Shape Us game was an excellent icebreaker activity, quickly opening up participants to share memories and getting to know each other quickly.

I found that inviting my friends to the Coffee and Chat event was a challenge with nobody joining me in the end. When I invited my close friends to come along, most messages were unanswered, plans clashed with other commitments, or they simply didn’t want to go.

Possible ways to reach more young people could include offering tangible incentives, such as a raffle or prize for a challenge, or surveying more people to find what would make them more willing to join these events.    

• Chatting about our memories and hobbies, as it was interesting hearing about experiences from older times.
• Very good for conversation starting (with the ‘Up to Us’ game), nice to hear about and learn about experiences I haven’t been through.”

A Little Connection Goes a Long Way!  By Li-Ping Liao

As a newcomer to this community, the theme for Mental Health Month 2026 resonates with me so deeply. Looking back, my journey here has been a beautiful “snowball effect” of wonderful connections! It all started back in 2024 when I was looking for school holiday activities for my teens. I came across Dr Bibiana’s program and shared it with a friend.

In a lovely twist of fate, that same friend later recommended Dr Bibiana’s Laughter Yoga to me! Although we initially only chatted at the lovely flower stall she runs every second Saturday, I finally joined her laughter yoga sessions early this year. It is so simple, yet it works wonders to lift my spirits!

Since then, one door has opened another: Volunteering with CFS: Dr Bibiana invited me to join the Community Flower Studio, beautifully expanding my circle of friends. The Community Garden: through a fellow volunteer, I found a group of amazing, like-minded gardening mates. Together, we learn, harvest, and connect with nature (even observing how climate change affects our local plants!).

Becoming a Mental Health First Aider: Thanks to Dr Bibiana’s referral, I completed the Mental Health First Aid course delivered by EPIC (Empowering Power in Crisis). This connected me with Vivienne, the founder of Together Parent Support, a Mandarin-speaking parent support group. In another lovely twist, I later discovered that Vivienne and Dr Bibiana already knew each other! Vivienne organized a brilliant series of online parent workshops, helping us tackle parenting challenges and share local supporting resources. It has empowered me to better support my own child as well as other youth in the community.

Coffee & Tea Chats: This October, Dr Bibiana hosted three wonderful chat sessions where we played an incredible Australian-developed card game called ‘U shape Us’. It was magical to see how a memory game could trigger shared life experiences among people from completely different cultural backgrounds. It has connected me to so many more people and given me so much confidence in my new home. Huge thanks to Dr Bibiana and everyone at CFS for fostering such a warm, inclusive, and connected community.

A little connection truly goes a long way!