The meadow saving itself
is an ongoing project started in 2023
This project began with my grandfather asking me to plant a meadow in his backyard.
The last 25+ years he had kept the backyard as a perfect lawn. Gras and only gras was allowed to grow there. He ripped out the daisies and he poisoned the moss. And now this monolithic monoculture should become a meadow.
With ups and downs we managed. Until today I’m not sure what overcame him in the pursuit of a meadow. He is 94 today (2026) and he loves it dearly.
I’m inspired by Derek Jarman’s book Modern Nature (1989) to keep a garden journal of this place in connection to my grandfather. I record all the plants I find growing. I record my grandfathers stories of his childhood, of things living in the attic and of the time he built this house with my grandmother.
One day he mentions that he wishes the meadow to remain, but he is concerened for its future. I ask why, he tells me:
When buying this property in the 70s the city reserved the right to build a road through his backyard if ever necessary.
The backyard is the meadow.
Until now and hopefully for the future as well the city has not enforced this road.
I am sceptical and I don’t believe that they will never want to build the road so I got to planning. This is a plan projected into the future and I estimate it will take me +10 years.
The city of Vienna has a list of animals, plants and habitats that are strictly protected.
My plan is to evolve the meadow into such a protected biotope by planning, caring and planting. I have found some protected species on the list, that heavily rely on specific plants.
I will continue to update this page as sort of a blog about the happenings on the meadow. Now here fellow traveller have some pictures of this beautiful place.
4/26
5/26 Natternkopf, Echium vulgare, 5/26 Königskerze, Verbascum densiflorum, 4/26 Lichtnelke, Silene dioica, 4/26 5/26 4/26 early 4/26
The last 25+ years he had kept the backyard as a perfect lawn. Gras and only gras was allowed to grow there. He ripped out the daisies and he poisoned the moss. And now this monolithic monoculture should become a meadow.
With ups and downs we managed. Until today I’m not sure what overcame him in the pursuit of a meadow. He is 94 today (2026) and he loves it dearly.
I’m inspired by Derek Jarman’s book Modern Nature (1989) to keep a garden journal of this place in connection to my grandfather. I record all the plants I find growing. I record my grandfathers stories of his childhood, of things living in the attic and of the time he built this house with my grandmother.
One day he mentions that he wishes the meadow to remain, but he is concerened for its future. I ask why, he tells me:
When buying this property in the 70s the city reserved the right to build a road through his backyard if ever necessary.
The backyard is the meadow.
Until now and hopefully for the future as well the city has not enforced this road.
I am sceptical and I don’t believe that they will never want to build the road so I got to planning. This is a plan projected into the future and I estimate it will take me +10 years.
The city of Vienna has a list of animals, plants and habitats that are strictly protected.
My plan is to evolve the meadow into such a protected biotope by planning, caring and planting. I have found some protected species on the list, that heavily rely on specific plants.
I will continue to update this page as sort of a blog about the happenings on the meadow. Now here fellow traveller have some pictures of this beautiful place.