Category Archives: Nature

10 Most Beautiful Tree Tunnels in the World

By | Nature | 3 Comments

Around three years ago, I featured some streets with beautiful trees surrounding them – I thought it was very hard to find something like that and only to find out there are many more beautiful ones all over the world!!! They call them TREE TUNNELS.   I received this via email forward from my Dad!  SO SO BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Previous Entry:  Street of Trees July 10, 2010 

Trees, The longest-living organisms on Earth, beautify and protect our environment by providing color,shelter, and shade. They renew our air supply by soaking up carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

10. Cherry Blossom Tunnel, Germany

Each spring, a peaceful street, located in the German city of Bonn, transforms into an enchanting cherry blossom tunnel. Photographer Marcel Bednarz captured this stunning sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom. He explained to me that there are actually two streets in Bonn where cherry trees are planted, but the one you see in the above picture is called Heerstraße. As you may know, the average cherry blossom lasts only between 7 and 10 days, depending on weather conditions. 09 more after the break…

09. Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho, Brasil

Number nine goes to Brazil’s green tunnel from Porto Alegre, Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho.According to a decree signed in 2006 by former mayor Joseph Fogaça,this beautiful street is part of the country’s historical, cultural, ecological and environmental heritage.

There are more than one hundred towering Tipuana (Rosewood) trees along Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho.The great shade trees stretch over three city blocks, which is a good thing for the city’s overall health.Did you know that trees, properly planted around buildings, can reduce air conditioning demands by up to 30%? 

08. Autumn Tree Tunnel, USA

Photographed in glorious autumn colors by Kevin McNeal, this tree tunnel is simply astonishing!The picture was taken on the way up to Smuggler’s Notch, a Vermont state park.

The eye-catching foliage starts changing its color in the northern region,in response to many environmental factors, and spreads south as the fall season advances.

07. Ginkgo Tree Tunnel, Japan

Gingko biloba is a highly venerated tree in Japanese culture. Six ginkgo trees survived the Hiroshima bombing, continuing to grow despite facing so many challenges, and are still alive today.Therefore, the Japanese regard the gingko as “the bearer of hope”.It is also known as “the survivor” or “the living fossil.” 

Around 65,000 ginkgoes grace Tokyo’s streets, gardens and parks today.According to some people who visited Tokyo, the tunnel you see in the above pictureis located in the outer garden of Meiji Shrine.

06. Yew Tree Tunnel, UK

The medieval Aberglasney House features one of the most beautiful gardens in Wales, UK.They have been an inspiration to writers since 1470. The Yew Tunnel is a popular tourist attraction in this area. Believe it or not, it took nine years of pruning to restore this unique archway. “Years of neglect had left it unsafe and with a perilous future, as the once formally clipped structure had grown even higher than the top of the Mansion itself. It is so nice to see it looking invigorated and healthy again,I had every confidence that with careful restoration it would help its future longevity,but I have to confess that it did look drastic at the time,” declared Graham Rankin,one of Aberglasney’s directors.

The Yew Tunnel is thought to have been planted by the Dyer family of Aberglasney, during the 18th century. 

05. The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

Tucked away in the county of Antrim, these beautiful beech trees are thought to be around 300 years old. According to local records, James Stuart planted the 150 beech trees in the 18th century,to impress guests as they approached his splendid property, Gracehill House.

Legend tells that the spirit of a maid, who lived in a neighboring mansion and died in mysterious circumstances hundreds of years ago, haunts the country road. “Grey Lady” silently floats along the road and quickly disappears as she reaches the last beech tree.

04. Bamboo Path, Japan

The Sagano Bamboo Forest is located in Arashiyama, a nationally-designated historic site. The pathway you see in the above picture is 500m long, and runs through one of Japan’s most beautiful bamboo forests. No wonder the Agency for Cultural Affairs declared Arashiyama a “Place of Scenic Beauty”.This forest is close to many famous temple and shrines, including the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. 

The sound the wind makes, as it blows through the tall bamboo trees,has been voted by the Japanese authorities as one of 100 must-preserve sounds of Japan.

03. Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

The Ukrainian Tunnel of Love is actually a two-mile sector of private railway that serves a woodworking plant near Klevan, a small city located in western Ukraine.I read somewhere that couples pass through this romantic tunnel to make a wish.The myth goes that, if their love is strong and pure, the wish will come true 

May all of your wishes come true, but watch out for the train! It runs three times a day through the leafy tunnel.

02. Jacarandas Walk, South Africa

 Over 10 million trees keep South Africa’s largest city green. According to several unofficial sources, Johannesburg is home to the world’s largest man-made forest.

There are at least 49 species of Jacaranda, most of them native to South America (particularly in Uruguay, Brazil, Peru & Argentina), and the Caribbean basin.The tropical trees were imported to South Africa over one hundred years ago. 

October is the month when the flowers of thousands of Jacaranda trees are in full blossom. This spectacular tree tunnel is located either in Johannesburg or Pretoria,the Jacaranda City where 70,000+ Jacarandas add vivid splashes of purple-blue to the urban landscape. 

 01. Wisteria Tunnel, Japan

As soon as the cherry blossom season ends, the gorgeous Wisteria flowers, that hang in grape-like clusters,take their turn on the Japanese floral calendar. The Fuji Matsuri, or Wisteria Festival, is celebrated each spring in Tokyo, Shizuoka, and Okazaki.

The Ashikaga Flower Park is one of the best places to admire different varieties of wisteria, including double-petaled wisteria, giant wisteria and yellow, white, light pink or purple variants of wisteria.

I would add as a plus: Oak Alley at Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana

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Visiting the Farm of Atty. G

By | Green, Nature | 4 Comments

We were so happy to visit Atty. Gonzales farm in Tagaytay!!  Now that he is semi retired, he has had more time to spend developing his farm and it is such a beautiful place…somewhere behing Antonio’s. 

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The happy farmer 🙂 He is able to sell his harvest already to some big companies!

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It was raining that day 

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coffee beans 

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Pineapple 

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Sili pepper 

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Wow!! Fresh from the farm which we took home with us.  We should come here more often! 🙂  Thank you Atty. G! 

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Balik Bukid

By | Animals and Pets, For kids, Giving Back, Green, Nature | 4 Comments

Congratulations to my cousins, Gippy and Hindy Tantoco for a super wonderful Balik Bukid fair!!!!  Heart2Heart enjoyed so much!!!!!  It was really a very nice event for the family.  We arrived at around 830am and there were already many people there.  The booths were really nice and unique!! and the food as well!!!  I wish I could have stayed all day. I could not put all 500 photos of mine so I compiled them into a video so you won’t miss most of the details of the event.  I am looking forward to PART 2 which I hope will be before Christmas!! and Part 3 and Part 4 and Part 5…..

Previous Entry:  A Family Affair At Balik Bukid Country Fair May 20, 2012 

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Betis Garden, Pampanga

By | Nature, Travel | 2 Comments

My friend, Timmy, took me to Pampanga to visit different exporters of furniture since she is helping me furnish my house.  She took me to Betis Crafts Inc. which is a factory and residence all in one.  

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The owner lives in the big compound and she loves gardening so you will see at the back of the factory her garden.  Many come over to see the place as well and has become sort of a tourist spot 🙂  

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Guest house!!!

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Outdoor open kitchen

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I love this bamboo walkway- its the kind of bamboo that keeps the area cool – so when you enter this walkway- you feel a certain coolness 

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This place is being used for wedding receptions 

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Love this treehouse!! 

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This is a gigantic swing.  We have something similar but this is in a grand scale.  That whole thing swings!!

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She grows her own pigs which is organic and then this is what they eat 🙂 

 

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Here’s Timmy and the daughter of the owner, Leslie  

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This is a long long table made out of a single piece of wood!!! WOW! 

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Recycling at the factory! Love it!

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Garden

By | Homes and Interiors, Nature | 13 Comments

My third request from James and another investment aside from

Previous entry:  Sub Zero December 5, 2011

Previous Entry:  Mattress from the Four Seasons Hotel January 6, 2012

was the garden.  As we were rushing to move into the house after 18 months renovation already, I requested James that if we move in, I wanted the garden to be finished.  And it was a good thing I insisted on this because it makes a world of difference!  We don’t have green thumbs and don’t really know about gardening, but it was important to us that we have a nice garden that will surround us.  Thank you to Timmy

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and Marcia ( with her Chihuahua in pink 🙂  ) who put together our garden!  Pls contact Marcia Revilla if you want to hire her services at 0919-572-3362

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To appreciate more how it was transformed, I am showing photos of the before and after

Front of the house – I heard that our neighbor put these trees so that it would match their frontage

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We removed it and then changed it to Buddha belly bamboos.  I like it because it gives some sort of privacy instead of placing a wall

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Side of the house

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Changed to this

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Another view, I found it a bit messy having different kinds of trees in one area

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Now

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The other side

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Now

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The main garden from the Balcony of the living room

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And now 🙂  It’s just so soothing for me to come home and see this

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Another view BEFORE

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AFTER

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Close up on the wall. James had them remove everything.  At first we were thinking of just adding, but then James just removed everything and started from scratch

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We are waiting for the bamboo to grow more leaves so that we can have full privacy from the neighbors

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This was the wall before we stripped off all the plants

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The back garden BEFORE

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AFTER!

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I love the pink flowers growing on the tree.  And take note of the round balls around the garden.  So beautiful when they are lit at night.  James wanted those capiz balls hanging on the trees, it’s a good thing Timmy found this for us!  Very unique yet so simple and elegant

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The side garden BEFORE

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AFTER

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Live with Soul

By | Nature | No Comments

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Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate – The Most Prestigious Address in the New South

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A Home in the Highest Quality: Prime residential real estate within a Golf Digest Top 100 golf course.

Residential lots are clustered into small enclaves within and around the 27-hole golf course to ensure Privacy & Security.World-Class Leisure:

The Sta. Elena Golf Club, Banahaw Clubhouse, Club 22; with food and beverage from the multi-awarded kitchen of golf club Chef Joseph Goh.

Residential Pleasure in Nature: The entire estate is a nature sanctuary of forests, fairways, lakes and river streams. It is a certified Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary. Protected areas are designed to create habitats for birds and other wildlife. Amenities for residents to play in nature include the Big Lake, the River Park, and the Fairway Park. Holistic, Country Life at the The Fun Farm where children can fish, saddle up on a horse, or chase a chicken; and at Holy Carabao Holistic Farm where residents can harvest organic produce. 

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Best Club-Style Service and Best Quality Maintenance: Sta. Elena management is known for its high standards of customer service and maintenance of its facilities. This tradition began in the Golf Club. It shall carry forth into the residential areas of the estate.

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Immediate In-and-Out Access: Compared to other villages in the New South that are away from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), the Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate is the easiest commute to Makati. It only takes 1 minute to the SLEx through the Cabuyao Exit.

Off the beaten path yet so convenient: The estate’s location is the best of all worlds. It is within a 5 to 10 minute drive from the commercial centers and schools of the New South, yet it is tucked away quietly in its own little corner… and with its own exit to the highway.

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A Weekday Wellness Treat For You!

By | Health and Fitness, Hearty Deals, Nature, Travel | No Comments

Come to the Farm for wellness and detox.  They said that 50% of their customers are repeat customers which only proves that they are satisfied with their experience.  Jennifer from the farm said, Look ten years younger and 10 pounds lighter!!!  🙂

Once in awhile, it’s good to just get away from it all and have a retreat!  After all, It’s when you are well….. that you enjoy your life.  

Click below to go to the website of the Farm and get more information

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Take advantage of this promotion!!! Only till the end of September 

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