Garden Talk

If you read a review of "Letters from IHF to to Stephen Bann"  which appeared in December 4th’s London Review of Books, you will learn that he was agrophobic, foul-mouthed and one to raise a mallet to his friendships, notably his best man Hugh MacDiarmid (described as the poineer of synthetic Scots). Little Sparta was “designed as a martial state - Finlay designed a stamp for it, and a flag - and  a machine gun was emblazoned on its entrance”.  The garden is full of the mention of war which is tempered by the pure whimsy of some of his concrete poetry.  LS has been a huge influence on gardens made in the 20th century.  It is not too far from Edinburgh and open in the summer months.  If you want to read more, click here: http://www.catharinehoward.co.uk/2014/11/18/little-sparta-what-did-i-think-of-it/#more-3682