Sundials

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Sundials date back to the Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. They are very iconic and represent history. Some Ancient examples have survived, but are usually so corroded that they only serve as a piece of history. Telling time has evolved from using the sun’s shadows to tell time into using digital clocks. Today, modern sundials are used decoratively. These round flat surfaces bring charm, nostalgia and history into a garden or yard.

Most sundials are made from metal or stone. There are many designs and are available in styles that vary between a fancy embellished style, a simple, rudimentary design, and anything in between. Most of the dial faces are white, often utilizing marble or stone in order to give a high contrast color with the darkness of the shadow.

Find the perfect place in your garden for this appealing piece of time-telling history. Consider the following when you are deciding on the perfect place for your sundial:

• Choose an area in full sun. This can be on a pedestal or in a grassy area.
• Placement of your sundial will bring curiosity and keen observation by visitors to your yard. Be sure to point the sundial in the correct direction in order to use it properly. This means pointing it to the celestial north, not the magnetic north of a compass. The most effective way to do this is to place it at noon.
•The dial must be level – this is essential. So make sure it is when you place your sundial in your yard.
• It is nice to have a good view of your sundial in the area where you spend the most time, whether that is in a comfortable patio chair, from the deck or in the garden.

When you choose to implement an outdoor decoration that evokes such historical reflection, it is a good idea to understand the terminology related to it. For example, the gnomon is the shadow arm. When the gnomon is pointed to the celestial pole, it will show solar time correctly. The sun time will only completely agree with clock time on four days out of the year. Time is off about 15 minutes a day because the earth’s orbit is slightly elliptical.

While the sundial is outdated as a primary time keeper, it is definitely a great decorative, and still functional addition to the garden or yard.

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