"I am a sundial, and I make a botch
Of what is done far better by a watch"
So wrote Hilaire Belloc, but is this really fair? Sundials are the earliest known form of time-keeping having been used for some five thousand years. The Greek historian Herodotus stated that sundials were first used by the Chaldeans and Sumerians in Babylonia which was part of the modern Iraq. They used vertical rods on their buildings and noted the position of the shadow to record the passing of the hours. The concept was developed by the Greeks and Romans who constructed various different shapes of dial to enable them to tell the time and the season of the year. Usually these were bowl-shaped dials with vertical or horizontal gnomons (shadow-casters) and hour lines marked in the hollow of the bowl. Over the years more elaborate designs were produced until the advent of accurate clocks when the function of the sundial became more decorative than as a reliable means of telling the time.
The question is often asked "Can a sundial really tell the correct time?" to which you will receive the Alice in Wonderland reply that it depends upon what you mean by "the correct time". Our clocks and watches work on the basis of there being exactly twenty-four hours between one day and the next but, because of the eliptical nature of the earth's orbit around the sun, the time shown on the sundial will vary according to the seasons. In February by the clock the sun is almost fifteen minutes slow, whereas during the spring and summer months it gains and loses between four and six minutes in two cycles. At the other extreme in November the sundial appears to be some seventeen minutes fast. In fact the sundial is accurate on only four days of the year, about April 15, June 14, September 2 and December 25. Some sundials include a table showing the deviation from "clock time" according to the date.
The time indicated by the sun will also vary with the location of the dial. The sun travels across the sky at the rate of fifteen degrees per hour so every degree of longditude represents a difference of four minutes from the standard meridian for the region. The angle of the gnomon also depends on the situation, so to set up your sundial correctly you need to know both the latitude and longditude of its location. For the United States and the United Kingdom this site can provide the information. The gnomon should be set at the angle in degrees which is equal to the latitude of your location. The sundial can then be fixed with the gnomon pointing to the Pole Star. There are various ways of achieving this, the easiest of which, is to use a compass adjusted for the magnetic variation. Further details are beyond the scope of this article, but for those interested look at this site.
If you have read this far you will have discovered that there is a great deal more to the sundial than a mere item of garden decoration. If this has piqued your interest in the subject, then you are not alone. There are Sundial Societies in countries around the world. The North American Sundial Society has details of its objects and activities on its website.
A number of sundial trails have been established. A good example is the Thames Sundial Trail in London, England. This site lists a number of other trails in countries all over the world but only two in the United States. However the North American Sundial Society has a complete list on its website.
Two rather different designs are shown here. The first, which is commonly referred to as a Human Sundial, uses the person's shadow to indicate the time. By standing in the appropriate box for the date the shadow will show the correct time. The second is a Digital Sundial which sounds like a contradiction in terms but in reality is just a rather clever design.
Many sundials have a motto inscribed on the face. Often these are rather serious in tone and of the "Tempus fugit" variety but you also find some written in a lighter vein. Here are a few of my favourites:
The shadow of my finger cast
Divides the future from the past
The clock the time may wrongly tell,
I never if the sun shines well
I stand amid the summer flowers
To tell the passage of the hours
And finally again from Hilaire Belloc:
I am a sundial, turned the wrong way round.
I cost my foolish mistress fifty pounds!
Hugh Harris-Evans is the owner of The Garden Supplies Advisor where you will find further articles, gardening tips and product reviews.
When you decide to buy one bird house or more... Read More
The size of your yard will determine your final vegetable... Read More
My first introductions to Hostas were four small green and... Read More
Do you love to cook outdoors but end up having... Read More
Plant lovers and backyard enthusiasts are special people who will... Read More
When selecting furniture for their outdoor spaces, many people purchase... Read More
This is the time of the year that I keep... Read More
Most riding lawn mowers are machines fun ride and extremely... Read More
Gardening for wildlife has become quite a passion for me,... Read More
After much searching and deliberation, I finally bought a lawnmower... Read More
There are thousands of species of Palm Trees. They are... Read More
"I am a sundial, and I make a botch Of... Read More
Like any job you tackle, it's always easier if you... Read More
Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a... Read More
Choosing the right bulbs involves more than just selecting colors... Read More
What a cruel trick the weather is playing on us.WE... Read More
Nothing invites one to sit and enjoy a lovingly created... Read More
What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The... Read More
The word for 'paradise' comes from the Persian word for... Read More
Is your concrete or asphalt driveway an eyesore? Do you... Read More
Over watering ranks first in causes of houseplant demise because... Read More
I went out to feed the birds this morning -... Read More
Compost, made from decomposed grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and branches,... Read More
Hydroponics gardening is the perfect solution for anybody who wants... Read More
What is xeriscaping? You may have heard of xeriscaping as... Read More
It is wisest to let Nature have Her way. Nature... Read More
Wildlife require water just as humans do. Water is essential... Read More
There is a magical quality to porch swings. In his... Read More
In the previous article I discussed design for your new... Read More
Flower bulbs need a good, long, winters sleep. Like some... Read More
Scents from the rose garden filling the air as you... Read More
Using landscaping ideas can be an effective way to attract... Read More
Herbs can add a touch of magic to your garden... Read More
Many finer homes and businesses feature beautiful indoor and outdoor... Read More
The number one, most asked question that I receive about... Read More
The average home can reduce their water consumption by around... Read More
Many of us flip through garden magazines, all the while... Read More
Different from any other chair, the Adirondack chair was first... Read More
This article is geared towards the beginner water gardener, who... Read More
Do you wish you could grow a sustainable vegetable garden?... Read More
Part four in a seriesIt's hard to think about winter... Read More
Traditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome... Read More
The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by... Read More
Here are a few tips to keep your garden and... Read More
Flowers Truly Reach Your Soul.Flowers are a heartfelt, natural way... Read More
Materials Needed 1 decorative clay or metal planter 1 package... Read More
Is it possible for a garden sundial to tell perfect... Read More
Purple Martins are the largest member of the swallow family.... Read More
When you start gardening with perennials, it's easy to think... Read More
You might be tempted to let Mother Nature, tend to... Read More
Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers,... Read More
Yes! You can attract hummingbirds to your home. Even if... Read More
Just recently my friend had his house appraised between $800,000... Read More
Why Compost?Recent studies show that an average family throws away... Read More
If you have never grown vegetables before the first thing... Read More
So you want to grow roses? They are a beautiful... Read More
It is a beautiful evening and you are relaxing on... Read More
There's a new garden in town. It is (mostly) easy... Read More
Imagine that you want to stay warm in your backyard... Read More
Most people would think of fall as a season when... Read More
The biggest flower benefit of all is the fact that... Read More
One of the best ways to bring together the many... Read More
When we moved into our south Anchorage log home I... Read More
Container vegetable gardens are a great alternative for those that... Read More
The shade garden can be exploding with color and texture.... Read More
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of plants knows that... Read More
Landscaping & Gardening |