Setting a Sundial

Do we really need digital watches and clocks to tell us what time it is? I guess if you're an accountant working on Wall Street you have to be a slave to schedules. But if you're a gardener, a sundial can be an even better way to tell the time.
I put this post under the sustainability label because sundials do not require industrial technology to build or maintain and cause no pollution. But they are an attractive, and useful decoration in the garden. Not only can you tell the hour, you can easily follow the path of the sun throughout the year, learning the direction of light and shadow in your garden. It takes a bit of education to get the most out of your sundial, but learning is always fun, and getting a better understanding of the movements of the sun throughout the day, the season, and the year, can be very rewarding for a successful gardener.
There's a couple ways to learn about setting and reading your sundial. There's quite a few books on the subject if you really want to get serious. Here's a couple that are highly rated:
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Or, Another way to learn is just do it! Make a simple sundial or buy a fancy one and put it in your garden. Then ... watch! Observe your sundial and compare it to a conventional clock. Make adjustments as you learn.
Sundials come in so many styles and mediums, it's easy to pick one that fits the personality of your garden. They can be made of brass, concrete, colorful tiles, carved stone, resin, or wood. They can be combined with zodiac wheels, a compass, or in combination with flowerpots, fountains, or birdbaths. Here's a cute one. The gnomon is a sailboat!