Loons belong to northern lakes, and the Loon Cattail sundial brings one down to the garden. The cast aluminum dial shows a loon among cattails, with Roman numerals around the edge instead of plain numbers. It is a favorite with camp owners in New Hampshire and Maine, and with anyone who has fallen asleep to that call across the water.

Material, finish and colors

The casting is recycled aluminum, made in the USA, and it will not rust. An all-weather protective coating protects the surface and comes with a five-year warranty. Three finishes are available. Copper Verdigris gives the green of weathered copper, French Bronze is the warm classic bronze, and Oil Rubbed Bronze is the darkest of the three.

Placing a Loon Cattail sundial

Choose a spot that stays in sun through the middle of the day. A pedestal near the dock path, a flat granite stone, or the cap of a stone wall are all good. Set it level, aim the upright blade north, and the shadow will move around the Roman numerals from morning to evening. It keeps sun time rather than clock time, so expect it to run some minutes off, and more in some months than others.

Keeping it looking right

Hose it off a few times a season and let the rain do the rest. There are no parts to adjust or replace. The Loon Cattail sundial has no personalization, so it ships as pictured in the color you select. American Cast Bronze Plaques sells it and will answer questions about which finish suits your setting.

For the same lake-house feel on the house itself, the weathervanes are cast the same way and look right on a boathouse or shed. If you want a dial with a different subject, the full sundial line has a sailboat, dragonflies and butterflies alongside this Loon Cattail sundial.