The Pat Kenny Show Gardening Stories: Little Sparta gardens in Scotland
Nov 5, 2025
In this engaging chat, Diarmuid Gavin, a celebrated horticulturist and Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner, dives into the magical world of Little Sparta, a unique garden created by artist Ian Hamilton Finlay. Gavin reveals how Finlay transformed a bleak stretch of moorland into a mesmerizing landscape filled with art and poetry. He discusses Finlay's tumultuous background, his collaborations with various artists, and the garden's whimsical features. Visitors encounter over 270 artworks that invite reflection, making Little Sparta a true fusion of nature and creativity.
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Creating Little Sparta From Moorland
- Ian Hamilton Finlay transformed seven acres of bleak Pentland Hills moor into Little Sparta starting around 1966 with his wife Sue.
- He commissioned craftsmen and artists rather than making everything himself, directing the work and adapting it into a unified garden-art landscape.
Dislocated Childhood And Agoraphobia
- Finlay came from a dislocated childhood with parents who lived in the Bahamas and ran a bootlegging operation during Prohibition.
- He suffered lifelong agoraphobia and, once settled at Little Sparta, rarely left the garden for decades.
Garden As Art And Idea-Space
- Little Sparta functions as both garden and art installation, blending wild planting with 270 artworks and inscriptions.
- Finlay framed the site as personal, cultural and even religious space to shape visitors' experience and challenge institutions.