Landscaping has always been my passion, and true enough, the gardens I’ve made provide an excellent buffer against heat. 

It wasn’t too long ago when the name Victoria Court was synonymous with less than wholesome terms like “trysting place.” 

Some claim that to be inconsistent with a design theme, such as Mediterranean or Modern Minimalist, in one’s house is a serious offense. 

The cool Amihan breeze sweeping the country signals the flowering of the Butterfly orchids, or Phalaenopsis. 

Some people call it a “cloud spoon,”  Perhaps that is because it looks like the cotton-candy-like clouds are cradled on the bowl of a humungous spoon. 

Beautiful houses are abundant in the city of Angeles in Pampanga. After all, the place is home to numerous furniture makers, whose pricey, exquisite-looking products are sold abroad.  

More and more new neighborhoods in the Philippines are adopting the look the American suburbs.  

There is no question that arable lands are shrinking as more cities in the Philippines continue to expand.  

When 30-something Robert Crespo and his wife Liza decided to return to the Philippines after living in New York, they still wanted to work in the construction industry. In New York, Robert handled sales of construction materials while Liza worked as an architect. This was when they first encountered a trend towards sustainable design and green products. 

I’m all for the beauty and simplicity of natural grass carpeting lawns and other available exterior space that needs some sprucing up. 

An ideal present for the Chinese New Year is the Guzmania, which belongs to the Bromeliad plant family or the Bromeliaceae. It’s one of the most colorful and long lasting bromeliads. The genus was named after Anastasio Guzman, a Spanish pharmacist and naturalist. 

A typical guestroom at Discovery Suites is almost like a complete home. Consider the amenities:  It has a living room, a dining room and a fully-equipped kitchen. Even the one-bedroom units come with all these features.  

Those who subscribe to Feng Shui and consult their Chinese astrological charts for the Year of the Water Dragon (which will begin on the 23rd of this month) are now busy prepping up their homes with charms and such for an auspicious year. 2012 is, after all, a dragon year, is supposed to be the most robust and the only non-animal symbol among the signs. 

Don Alejandro Roces Avenue in Quezon City has never been known as a fashionable area.  

We had always wondered about Peachy Roces Prieto, a friend we had lost touch with. She lived in Paris for a while, and in Baguio where she operated a restaurant called Café Amapola. The place was famous for its food, of course, but its arty ambience was also a major attraction.   

One of the frustrating things in visiting a large furniture exhibition in Manila is when, upon gazing upon a piece that you would like to buy and inquire about its price, you would be informed by the booth attendee that the items are  “for export only.” 

First-time visitors can easily mistake this place for a private resort, or a large bed-and-breakfast place. It actually has a special attraction that seems to be getting scarce in Tagaytay: It still has that rustic atmosphere. 

The Mandarin orange is a significant fruit for the New Year.  It symbolizes a bountiful harvest, prosperity and hope for success.  

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, Ningning de Ocampo always goes for traditional décor. 

A popular plant during Christmas is the Pomegranate.  Locally known as the Granada, it’s got beautiful bright red flowers and fruits.  Scientifically, it’s called the Punica granatum, a small fruit-bearing deciduous woody shrub or tree that can grow up to eight meters tall.