A man-made paradise designed by Loubs for Woodheights (photo by BIBSY M. CARBALLO)

It was our good friend Marichu Liwag Carstensen of Lipa City who introduced us to the talented landscape designer Loubs Gardolia. Said designer is presently building her home in a town near Lipa.

Thus, from our favorite camping grounds at the Taal Lake Yacht Club in Talisay, we drove to the other side of Taal Lake and arrived in Lipa in no time at all. From Lipa, we drove to the town of Mataas na Kahoy in Batangas to meet Loubs.

The  town overlooks Taal Lake and frankly, we had no prior knowledge of the growing reputation of this small municipality with a population of 25, 000. Its climate is as cool as that of Tagaytay. It is bounded by the town of Balete, Lipa City, and Taal Lake.  Reportedly, many prominent Batangueños are acquiring properties in this town.  Actor Aga Muhlach was also said to have bought a choice lot there.

Loubs and her engineer husband Earel Gardiola took us to their future home, which they are building on a 1,500 square meter lot. The garden and pool area have already been completed and they easily showcase Loubs’ landscaping abilities. The place features expensive natural stones from India with local cement finishing. Serving as accents are  huge imported jars and  a hut.

Loubs also planted tropical indigenous plants sourced from Los Baños. With healthy, lush giant plants creatively put together, we can imagine how this would look with inspired lighting for night swimming and parties under the summer sky.

Loubs has an Interior Design degree from UST. She still dabbles in interiors and is up-to-date with design trends.  She says the lightweight furniture of Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue is the rage today and they make perfect outdoor accent pieces.

With her husband, Loubs did several projects for the Philippine Tourism Authority under Mina Gabor. These include the Tagaytay Picnic grove hanging bridge and deck. Eventually, Loubs gravitated towards landscaping.

We then headed for Woodheights Resort and Spa, which is owned by Earel’s brother and is being landscaped and built by the couple. A number of country clubs and resorts have been established in Mataas na Kahoy and  Woodheights is the town's latest resort development. This huge project again imparts the building expertise of Loubs and Earel. They’re supervising everything being built on this 10, 000 hectare property, from the road construction and ground development to the landscaping.    

Construction of Woodheights began in 2008 and when completed, it will have a 60-room hotel, a chateau, aviary, gazebos, a sports complex, a firing range and a golf course, a number of casitas, a chapel and a helipad ensconced in the middle of a lagoon.  The place is already open for weddings  and concerts, among many others. An event recently held was a car show which the owner personally supervised, being an inveterate rare car enthusiast.

Originally, the property of Woodheights was dominated by flat terrain. Amazingly, Loubs added several man-made hills and inventively installed a tunnel and twisting brooks in various spots. On the garden’s Therapy Walk, one is advised to walk barefoot. Traversing this trail is almost the equivalent having a foot massage in a spa.

Plants in the resort are of the Asian tropical indigenous variety secured from Los Baños. In her garden, as well as in Woodheights, Loubs makes much use of the Seloum, Bird’s Nest Fern, Australian Fern, Staghorn Fern, Oakleaf Fern, Cycad, and Alocasia.

Fully grown trees are also balled and transferred to the resort and Loubs’ own garden.  In Loubs’ residence are a replanted full-grown Acacia tree and a few Narra trees. Loubs, however notes, that she had to stop replanting temporarily as it is much too hot for the new plants to survive.

As part of her landscaping contract, Loubs advices clients about the upkeep of the gardens she designed. She also checks on them from time to time.

Loubs also rents out plants for special occasions and parties and she’s sometimes asked to create a garden motif for the event. One client, she recalls, even asked her to do a design just a week before the party.  She delivered because as she herself puts it, “I work best under pressure.”

For inquiries, contact Loubs Gardolia at 09285021464.

Email the author at bibsycarballo@yahoo.com.