Celebrating Ian Hamilton Finlay: the Little Sparta Scottish Gardener, Artist, and Poet
"Finlay created a one-of-a-kind garden that incorporated sculptures, words, architecture, and poetry.
He named his garden Little Sparta, which he considered a living piece of art."
October 28, 1925
On this day, the Scottish poet, artist, and gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay was born.
Finlay created a one-of-a-kind garden that incorporated sculptures, words, architecture, and poetry. He named his garden Little Sparta, which he considered a living piece of art.
Finlay's poetry is incorporated into the art at Little Sparta.
One especially poignant piece is a one-word poem with a long title - a form of poetry Finlay pioneered.
In the garden, there is a small engraved stone that shares a one-word poem with a long title:
One Orange Arm
of the World's
Oldest WindmillAutumn
This post was featured onThe Daily Gardener podcast:
helping gardeners find their roots,
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Ian Hamilton Finlay
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