How to use 仿佛 properly? To give context, this is the sentence:


  永远不能忘记的是北京，因为我在那里住的太久了，仿佛树生了根一样。


I am not sure how to render the last bit. I'm guessing it's saying:


As if I am a tree, the roots are the same as my life, sown in from
birth;
I'm the same as a growing tree and its roots.


Not sure if I'm picking out the right things, I'm reading 仿佛 and 一样 as separate items, or does the sentence construction 仿佛...一样 have a meaning of some kind?

If so, how to use it, what is the difference between saying just 仿佛，or using 仿佛...一样?
仿佛:    seem; as if ; just like 

Example1 : 她工作努力，仿佛不知疲倦似的。 She works hard as if she never knew fatigue .
Example2 : 无论我提议什么事，她仿佛都不愿干。She doesn't seem to want to do anything i suggest.
Example3 : 她她如此美丽，仿佛就像个天使。 She so beautiful just like an angel.