Garden Sundials and armillaries are a neat way of keeping track of time or as a garden decoration

Sundials are highly popular garden accent. They will never need polishing and won't rust. The normal shape is a disc, but a couple of unique styles like the Sun & Moon model are coming on to the market and are becoming many gardeners favorite outdoor garden clocks as a featured decoration.

Popular brands are Rome Whitehall and Spot-on

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Armillary spheres were historically used to teach the concepts of spherical astronomy. Comprised of a skeletal sphere, a model of the Earth is at the center of the armillary, with the encircling bands representing the outer sphere of fixed stars. The armillary sundial tells solar time when the arrow, corresponding with the Earth’s axis, casts a shadow on the equatorial band. Evoking the grace of ancient civilizations, no classic home should be without an armillary.

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Our most popular style of sundial, the horizontal, disc sundial is also one of the most versatile. Simply display on the ground or place on a decorative pedestal as a stunning lawn and garden accent. We are proud to carry a superb selection of disc sundials in tasteful styles and finishes bound to suit you! Bring a sense of early history and science to your backyard with a decorative, yet fully functional, disc sundial.

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With a Bird Bath Sundial, you get two great lawn and garden products in one: a fully-functional sundial with raised sides that is also an instant birdbath! Demure and delicate-looking, each birdbath sundial is crafted of lightweight, yet rugged cast aluminum or brass with your choice of delectable finishes. Display alone or with one of our elegant pedestals for an unforgettable yard or garden focal point.

birdbath dials

Complete the European elegance of your home with the Soleil Old World Wall Sundial. The perfect finale to your Old World theme, this decorative sundial recalls an era when artistry and craftsmanship went into every detail of daily living. Each sundial is crafted from incredibly durable sand cast aluminum and comes with your choice of patina finish.

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These elegant, hand-made, fully-functional sundials incorporate the innovative split gnomon; every day at solar noon, a line of light will shine through the gnomon along the noon line on the dial. This feature enables you to set up the sundial absolutely accurately to true North using the full instructions supplied.

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The dial plate which has 10-minute lines and 5-minute dots features a smooth, matte finish to ensure a razor sharp shadow for maximum visibility. The remainder of the dial plate and the sides of the gnomon are mirror-finished. This provides for stunning reflections, both of the sky and of neighboring trees and buildings. From certain angles, the gnomon actually appears to be suspended in space! The dials are handmade in England for the exact latitude of your location. And all the engraving at the foot of the dial is personal to you too! When we get your order, our English associates send you a selection of engraving examples, to help you decide what you would like. You can have as much or as little as you like. When you have decided, they will send you a drawing of the engraving for you to review and to "sign off" before it is engraved.

For something rather different try hanging sundials for that barren wall space you have been trying to fill. These are designed to be mounted on a southern facing wall. They're sure to be conversation piece.

If accuracy is what you're after, a latitude-specific spot on sundial is for you. These sundials, with routine maintenance, provide accurate timekeeping for those with an understanding of sundial operation. Armillary Sundials were developed by Greek astronomer Ptolemy, and have been popular for two thousand years.

Bird Bath Sundial an environmentally friendly outdoor decoration

You will really like these because you get two great lawn and garden products in one: a functional sundial and a bird bath to attract more birds to you backyard. They have raised sides to hole water, with dial on the outer rim. Each birdbath sundial is crafted of cast aluminum or brass with your choice of finishes.

Two types of pedestals you can use. For most types whitehall pedestals are what you would want to use. This company has been making fine home and garden accents since 1941. Classic pedestals from Rome Industries. These are ideal for displaying armillary sundials on.

About Scientific sundials

All of these models can be viewed here

These garden sundials are designed for accuracy and not really recommended for casual users, but more for those wanting to know how sundials work or for enthusiasts looking for a precision sundial. They are a handcrafted instrument, so if you see minor surface scratches this is normal. The finish on the brass is a low luster brushed look.

Split gnomon sundials which are very accurate scientific instruments will tell time down to 2 minutes and spot-on scientific sundials, both are set to solar noon.

Time zone models are set to degrees NORTH

Los Angeles is made to accurately tell time for latitudes between 32 and 36 degrees. Milwaukee is made for latitudes between 40.5 and 45.5 degrees. New Orleans, accurately tell time for latitudes between 26 and 32 degrees north. San Francisco tell time for latitudes between 36 and 40.5 degrees north.
Vienna for latitudes between 45.5 and 49.75 degrees.

Personally I feel if you have teenagers with scientific minds or you want something unique in your home you really should buy one of these.

Short history of the sundial

Sundials exist in most countries, in various forms, differing in construction according to the knowledge of the age in astronomy and mathematics, and showing clearly at different periods in the history of a race evidence of influence by other civilizations with greater knowledge. Sundials are also abundant in the far East such as China and Japan, but not as much history of these is known to the Western world.

Today these decorations are mostly used as garden decor in flower gardens, more as an ornament than as a timekeeper, and it is the love of antiques that causes old dials to change ownership and to be set up at new sites. The marked interest that has been taken in the sundial during recent years shows it has still a great future before it. Age can add to its value, and yet in no way impair its reliability.

How to buy

Sundials are a beautiful way to add a touch of history to your garden. Humans have always been fascinated by the concept of time and methods for keeping up with time, and the sundial has graced gardens as both time-keepers and decorative accent pieces for centuries.

Very popular gifts, especially for weddings and anniversaries, as the concepts of “time” and “everlasting love” are so closely related. Many of our sundials include popular inscriptions such as “Grow Old Along With Me The Best Is Yet To Be.” These are primarily decorative, as they have beautiful, intricate patterns and designs, and they will tell time within approximately15 degrees of the correct time if set up properly.

When purchasing, your primary considerations will most likely be the sundial’s location in your yard or garden and the type of sundial you prefer. The vast majority of sundials are designed to be mounted on a pedestal.

Sometimes you can find it cheaper on EBay