Did you realize that sundials need to be set, just like any other signs? We didn’t either. So even when the sun isn’t shining, pay attention to your sundial. A sundial must be anchored in a garden by someone who knows how to set the dial at the correct angle to tell accurate time. Placement is different for every location. To set your sundial:
Put your sundial in a location that is flat and gets full sun, not shaded by trees, bushes or the house.
Calibrate the gnomon. A gnomon is the part of the sundial that sticks up from the face of the dial. Orient the gnomon directly in line with the North Star.
These are the best days to set a sundial for an accurate reading. The best time is at noon, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. “Sun time” and “clock time” agree only four times a year:
June 15
September 1
December 24
April 15
On one of these dates, go outside at noon and position the sundial so the shadow cast by the gnomon indicates noon as well.
Photo: Hindman