|
Fruit Trees | Frog Collectibles | Aromatherapy | Contact In The Garden | Landscaping & Gardening |
|
|
That Backyard Sundial, How Does It Work?
Getting the time of day from your sundial..."I am a sundial, and I make a botchOf what is done far better by a watch" - So wrote Hilaire Belloc (poet and other things, 1870-1953). But I think this is being unfair to the sundial. Sundials are the earliest known form of time-keeping which has been in use for, at least, four thousand years. The The first recorded mention of the sun dial was in 742 BC. But t he Greek historian Herodotus tells us that sundials were first used by the Chaldeans and Sumerians in ancient Babylonia and the physical evidence bears this out. (Babylonia existed in the same geographic area as modern Iraq.) They used vertical rods on their buildings and noted the position of the shadow to record the passing of the hours.
This shadow marking concept was further developed by the Greeks and Romans who constructed not just one type of sundial, but diverse shapes of dials that told them both 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. Note that A gnomon may be a thin piece of sheet metal, a pin or rod, or a tautened string. Over the years more elaborate designs were produced including adjustable sundials. For example, one such sundial consisted of a horizontal dial with a small number of concentric hour scales, each for use in a single latitude. The inclination of the gnomons on this adjustable dial could be varied. Elaborate sundial such as this continued to be made until the 1600's when the greater availabity of accurate mechanical clocks made sundials more of a decorative feature in the landscape than as a reliable means of telling the time. Now we come to the question, "Can a sundial really tell the correct time?" Sometimes. But it is not as accurate on a day to day basis as our modern clocks. Our clocks and watches work on the basis of dividing the day into exactly twenty-four hours, and then use a mechanical method (or other means such as atomic decay) to measure the passage of time. A sundial. Of course, uses the sun's light to measure the passage of time. Because of the eliptical nature of the earth's orbit around the sun, how the shadows are cast by the gnomon differs from day to day and thus the time shown on the sundial will vary according to the seasons. In February, a sundial compared to a regular clock is almost fifteen minutes slow. During the spring and summer months, that dial out in the garden, 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 only four days of the year: about April 15, June 14, September 2 and December 25. Some sundials will compensate for these irregularities by including a table showing the deviation from "clock time" according to the date. Another variable needs to be kept in mind. 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. How the angle of the gnomon is placed depends on the physical 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 www.spot-on-sundials.co.uk 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 check out this site, www.sundials.co.uk/setup.htm.
Sundials can be a wonderful decorative item in your garden. They are fascinating way to mark the sun's passage across the sky, watching the shadow of the gnomon move around the dial. And a sundial connects with history. If you have been piqued by this 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. Like to take unusual hikes or vacations? 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. Sundial design continues to evolve and today there is a digital version of this ancient time teller. The Digital Sundial may sound like a contradiction in terms, but it a rather clever design, as it projects a digiital number onto the face of the dial. Visit here for more information: www.digitalsundial.com Many sundials have a motto inscribed on their faces. Often these inscriptions refer to the Latin term, "Tempus fugit" or "time flees or flies" such as this verse by Roman poet Virgil: Sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile tempus, which means, "But it flees in the meantime: irretrievable time flees".
There are mottos written in a lighter vein. Here are a few of my favourites:
Divides the future from the past The clock the time may wrongly tell, I stand amid the summer flowers And finally again from Hilaire Belloc: I am a sundial, turned the wrong way round. If you enjoy jokes, by the way, check out www.jokeglobe.com About the author: Hugh Harris-Evans is the owner of The Garden Supplies Advisor where you will find further articles, gardening tips and product reviews.
News about Sundials
sundials - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES Organic Roses in the Flower Garden Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses this way also. Using the pesticides and insecticides that are usually considered to go along with growing roses and keeping them healthy can cause many people have to health problems . Maybe you just don't want those kind of chemicals in your garden and around your children. This article will give some pointers in using more natural methods of growing your roses. Garden Sheds - More Than Just Storage You may already have a garage or shed in your garden or backyard and its possible that you haven't even considered the prospect of adding a garden shed at all. Any garden implements could easily be stored in the garage or utility area. However, a garden shed is so much more than just an every day storage area, as it can have a character all of its own. It can serve many purposes other than practical ones. Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 3) Lighting THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS. Dragonfly Page
Flowers Wilting? Tips for Making Your Flowers Last Longer We all know one disadvantage of flowers is that they don't last very long. While they are here they bring happiness and warmth to any dull decorating space. If your flowers are dieing awfully fast, then you may be using poor flower care routines. There are many little things that you can do to lengthen the life span of your flower arrangements and flower bouquets. Many florists and flower shops provide good information on how to care for your specific flower type. Read on for a few extra tidbits of information on expanding the time that you can enjoy your flowers. Hummingbirds ? Attracting Those Little Flying Powerhouses It's early in May a beautiful fairly warm day so I've decided to enjoy it and sit on the front porch. Pest Control Tips for Maintaining Your Greenhouse Greenhouses provide a warm, humid atmosphere and are home to a variety of different plants and flowers which is why they are a perfect target for insects. There are numerous types of insects which will want to live in your greenhouse and feed off of the wonderful plants and flowers which you have put so much time and effort into maintaining. The information below will provide you with tips and guidelines to follow in order to ensure you are doing everything in your power to ward off any unwanted pests. Solar Garden Lights Solar lights are very popular for lighting yards and gardens. They are virtually maintenance free, easy to install, and cost almost nothing to run. Once you have bought solar lights, the only future maintenance costs are for replacement batteries. How to Make Your Backyard a Wonderland Oasis Home and garden accessories make the difference between house and home. Unfortunately, quality accessories can be notoriously expensive and in today's economy, finding beauty at a price one can afford is sometimes difficult but can be done. The difference between an empty backyard and a lush garden oasis comes down to the details. Visual and aural grace notes can transform any space. How to Rid that Lawn of Thatch! You know that brown patchy debris in a lawn that accumulates on top of the soil but below the grass line? That's thatch. The Sundial - Garden Ornament or Exotic Timepiece? Most of us regard a sundial as an attractive ornament for a park or garden. Their effectiveness as time keepers is highly variable Planting Roses In Your Garden Roses are an old standby for any garden and one of the worlds favorite flowers. There are over 5,000 varieties of roses in the United States and they can be used to enhance your garden in many ways - as creepers, shrubs, vines, climbers, hedges or just as beds of pure colour. Plant Hardiness Zones When selecting plants for the landscape, is important to select plants that will grow in your climate. The United States has 10 of growing or climate zones. These zones range from the zone 1 in the extreme northern part of United States, to his own 10, which covers the southernmost part. Zone 1, is for the most hardiest of cold weather plants. Temperatures in zone 1 can reach 50 degrees below 0. Zone 10 on the other hand, is is a more tropical climate. Zone 10 plants only need to worry about cold temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees. Rose - The Flower of Love and Romance What is the flower that everyone visualizes and associates with love or romance? ‘Rose’ is the instant answer by anyone. The rose is placed on a high pedestal by almost all the ancient civilizations which is indicated by the fact that the flower has been associated with numerous myths and legends. Numerous instances abound in the Greek, Roman, Hindu, Jew and Egyptian mythologies and legends. No wonder, the flower is a delight to the viewer and has made inroads into our everyday lives and true to its importance the rose has been acclaimed as the ‘queen of flowers’. Garden Room Boundaries The areas of your landscape can be divided into several sections and areas, which are also known as garden rooms. Garden rooms are spaces where you plant, grow, and display different ideas in gardening in various creative methods. One garden room could be a rose garden, while another could include the use of a water garden, while still another garden room in your landscape could include the use of just purple flowers. Garden rooms are your creation, and only limited to your imagination. Make Your Fresh Cut Roses Last Longer! Women adore getting flowers, most especially roses, as it is a symbol of love and affection. Price of roses vary from state to state and flower shop to flower shop. Regardless, it is an investment that you want to have last as long as possible. So here are some steps you can take to ensure they last Gardening and Flowers Gardening is one of life's pleasures whether you grow flowers, vegetables or herbs; we look forward to the planting season. But whether you are new or seasoned gardener, it's important to remember a few basic things. Flower Meanings Certain types or colors of flowers mean different things, and you don't want to send the wrong message if you give them as a gift! Of course, not everyone knows what a particular flower means, but you can never be too sure! Flower Meanings & History of Flowers The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are the subject of poems and myths, and religious symbols are associated with flowers as well. Many girls are named after flowers. The main reason for the popularity of flowers though is their ability to bring good cheer. Wild Flower Garden - Yours to Design and Plan To design a wild flower garden, you do not need to be a specialist or an artist, you just need to be observant and let your creative juices flow. Look around you, what is unique about your surroundings? Do you wish to enhance or compliment these things. Will your new wild flower garden be visible from the house, if so, perhaps you would like to plant your favorite colors so every day is a feast for your eyes. Are you seeking a quiet spot to sit awhile and relax, then your new garden can have a stone bench surrounded by tall plants to create a sense of peace and privacy. As I said, whatever style of wild flower garden you want, it can be yours. You can make this a reality if you plan the work, and work the plan. Pine Furniture Care Guide First, some background on PINE WOOD. Pine is a naturally soft wood which continues to "breathe", based upon changes in the local (home, office, store, etc.) humidity and temperature. On the individual furniture piece there may be slight defects, such as knots,and shakes(small cracks in the surface of the wood). Some minor shrinkage may sometimes occur. These natural irregularities in pine enhance its overall uniqueness.
|
|
home | site map | Privacy Policy |
| Copyright © 2008 www.in-the-garden.org | Contact | General Partners |
