At Little Sparta

[imomus]

Ian Hamilton Finlay's Little Sparta—four acres of labyrinthine grottos, nymph glades, heathery uplands, graeco-scottish lakes, french revolutionary beehives, lush greenhouses, quirky temples, rambling outhouses, all dotted with stone- and wood-carved epigrams from Saint Just and the Latins—is the most gorgeous and remarkable thing I've seen all year. What a joy it was to ramble there quite lost for an hour on Sunday, and even spy the 80 year-old artist himself sitting in his conservatory. And how extraordinary to make your life's work a living work of art which you can inhabit, and share with others: a postmodern, neo-classical, pastoral utopia. Or, simply, a garden.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Nice garden- ;) but seriously, I feel in the photos you have captured something of it that the website photos didn't come close to.. just an atmosphere.. and possibly the lushness in relation to the environment and the weather.

[rodaminian.livejournal.com]

If I may ask, Momus, what megapixel is your camera? While we're at it, I may as well ask what type of camera you're using.

Also, can you recall what was written on those large stones?

[riley-o.livejournal.com]

Good lord, what a gorgeous place!

[imomus.livejournal.com]

The inscription on the large stones is from Saint-Just: "The present order is the disorder of the future."

I use a Sony Cybershot M1 (http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/M1/M1A.HTM). 5.1 Megapixel.

Sparta

[(Anonymous)]

The hand-grenade urns are sheer genius...........

[(Anonymous)]

Is that a heart shape stone your shadow falls on? What a great house it looks, did you get any peek into the main part of it. Like; sorry to bother you but could I use your toilet kind Sir.

Re: Sparta

[klasensjo.livejournal.com]

Yes. I wonder what happens if you pull the ring...
Great photos.

[becki1111.livejournal.com]

Everything is graced with poetry. The pictures are such wonderful glimpses of it...they perfectly reflect what you said "And how extraordinary to make your life's work a living work of art which you can inhabit, and share with others".

Are those bee boxes in one of the photo? Oh I hope so. That would only add to the utter enchantment and importance of this place.

I want to ramble on about how amazing these pictures are and how I saw them at a time I needed to see such things...instead I will end with saying that is the most brilliant, beautiful foot bridge I have ever laid eyes upon.

Robert Moog has thrown a seven

[(Anonymous)]

Brain cancer, it seems.

this is very refreshing...

[jina---.livejournal.com]

how's the weather over there?

[blndsnnts.livejournal.com]

Now, I think that's more of a taste of nature than the Berlin Zoo. Pretty place. Scotland must be a good pick for anyone who is a big fan of nature.

Re: this is very refreshing...

[imomus.livejournal.com]

It's actually gorgeous... Quite unlike the dreich Edinburgh I remember.

Re: Sparta

[(Anonymous)]

it explodes, spreading seeds and fertility across the land of course.

what a lovely place. I am close in age to you Momus, and feeling the
pull to be in a smaller city with more nature available- your tours are
very helpful! Much appreciated.

[fiercerose.livejournal.com]

redliner recommended that I offer up this userpic to you, should you want it.

[queenpasiphae.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting these pictures--it looks like a gorgeous place!