WALK WITH FLOWERS IN BAGUIO: General Luna Road to Brent Road

The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Walking is a spiritual journey.

Along the way, flowers and plants tell their story.

Be in touch with nature.

Take time to smell the flowers!

We know nothing about tomorrow; our business is to be good and happy today.

Sydney Smith

The stretch of General Luna Road starts either from Magsaysay Avenue or Session Road. The two entry roads intersect near the University of Baguio. From that point, going towards St Louis Lab School, we crossed over Bonifacio Street. There I saw the three-foot spray of White Orchids. This was showcased at the entrance of Rex Hotel. It was exceptionally beautiful. The flowers evoked so much elegance, purity, and grace. I had to go and touch them.

They were real, sensual, and rare!

After paying my respects, we went down the road where Happy Glenn Loop is situated. We continued going up. Near the barangay hall is an HERB GARDEN. Rosemarie, Lemon Grass, Horsetail, Kutsay and other herbs grew on that patch.

There was a swarm of Blue-Bottle flies. Their blue and green metallic markings glinted with the rain drops atop the flowers and blades of grass. The transparent purple streaks in their wings zipped as they feasted on the decaying dirt strewn alongside the plants.

....

Along that garden patch, there were Crowns of Thorns or Euphorbias. These thorny cacti, originally from Madagascar, have pliant stems, which could be intertwined into a circle. It was interesting to know that this was the crown of thorns that they put on Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. The yellow-orange hybrids look nice as a go between for the usual creamy whites and the muted reds.

These Bromeliads screamed with their fiery colors. The flowers captured the flames of a live blowtorch.

The Kutsarita
hedges lined up
on top
of the
stone walls
were
red
like
wild fire.

Interspersed,
were the
green
and
yellow
Kutsaritas
like
live
embers.

........

The
Dandelions
poked out
from the
carpet of weeds
like
little sprays
of sunshine.

........

These variegated air-filtering Snake Plants lined the road. There should be more of these. They do not only absorb carbon dioxide like all plants do, but they also clean the air by absorbing other toxins. They are also called Mother-in-law's tongue, Sword of Saint George, Espada de santa barbara, or Tiger's tail.

The
lowly Pising
or
Gabi/Taro plants
stood their ground.
You can't miss
to see
a cluster
of these
versatile plants.

........

The ornamental
blood-colored leaves complemented
the background
of greens.

........

Mosses
crept
on the
stone walls
carpeting
the crevices.

........

Litter
and
graffiti
were
parts
of
the
story.

........

Also,
restaurants
and bars
line
this
strip.

We followed the route. Before hitting Leonard Wood Road, we turned left to Brent Road.

........

The island in the intersection of Gen Luna, Leonard Wood, and Brent Roads were overgrown with weeds and Yellow Candle flowers. Also, the popularly known Golden Bush, which is an herb. The fruit however is toxic and deaths were reported with its ingestion. The bush is also known as Golden Dew Drop.

Two things
you cannot
avoid seeing
while
walking in Baguio:

Sayote
and
trash!

........

Pinky Leaves. They are prettily speckled weeds, but I prefer to call them wildflowers.

........

Red-white Salvia blooms lined the fence of a residence in Brent Road. These flowers belong to the sage family, but more ornamental than herbal.

........

Over
the
fence
are
popular
lilac
Million flowers.

In between the reds, blues, and lilacs was this hybrid of

Million flowers with the color of violence: blood splattered, beaten blue, and dead white. It was so sad a story.

........

Brent Road.

........

These were some kind of Arthrostemma flowers. They are endemic in the mountains of the Cordilleras. The seeds form into bells that could be used as decors.

.......