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Article: Tales From a Vienna Roof; Evergreens and Clematis Blend in Rooftop Harmony
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 22, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Sitting among the dense greenery of Hildegard and Walter
Greinert's rooftop garden in Vienna, one feels the blue sky is almost
within reach-and more than just the sky. To the north, the Danube is
a blue-gray ribbon. A few blocks away, yellow trams run like windup
toys between dotted lines formed by alle'es of horse chestnut trees.
As far as the eye can see-and beyond-red-tiled roofs tilt at a
variety of angles, punctuated by verdigris domes. Here and there,
gables are capped with railings of delicate wrought-iron arabesques
painted black.
From this vantage point, Vienna is the glittering imperial city
it was only two generations ago: the seat of power in Central Europe
and a beacon of ...