Sundial Garden Accessories: Pedestal and Garden Plaque Types |

Sundial Garden Accessories: Pedestal and Garden Plaque Types

| By Roy Rasmussen | Category: Outdoor

When you purchase a garden sundial, you may also want to buy sundial garden accessories to spruce up your garden décor. A sundial pedestal or a garden plaque can enhance the look of your sundial and the surrounding landscape and set the mood of your garden. This article will introduce you to some of the major types of sundial pedestals and garden plaques that can accompany sundials.

Garden Sundial Pedestals

Sundials can be placed on sundial pedestal bases for better display. Sundial pedestals vary by the type of sundial they are designed to support, material, diameter, and height.

Most sundial pedestals are designed for horizontal sundials. Some will fit spherical armillary sundials. Be sure the pedestal you are buying will fit the kind of sundial you have.

Sundial pedestals are typically constructed of wrought iron, cast iron, or cast resin. Iron sundial pedestals are painted to protect against oxidation, but will still rust over time. Some people like the rusted look. Cast resin sundial pedestals are made of a material similar to casting concrete, which is poured into a mold, cured solid, and protected with a painted finish. They are usually the least expensive type of sundial pedestal.

Smaller diameter sundials are often set on a tapered neck stand or a smaller stand. Larger sundials go with bigger stands.

Pedestals tend to range from about 20 to 32 inches in height or so.

Garden Plaque Varieties

Getting a garden plaque to go with your sundial is a great way to set an overall mood for your garden. Garden plaques are flat ornamental tablets with decorations that establish atmosphere. Like sundials and sundial pedestals, garden plaques come in an array of varieties.

Garden plaques can depict images, inscriptions, or a combination of words and pictures. Popular image themes are birds, bunnies, amphibians, solar and lunar imagery, Western mythic figures, Asian designs, and holiday themes. Inscribed plaques are often used as address signs, memorials, commemorations, and to quote famous and homey sayings, such as “Bless This Garden.” Inscriptions can be customized.

Some plaques are adaptable to both indoor and outdoor use.

Garden plaques made of stone, called garden stones, are often used as memorials to dedicate plants or trees to people and pets. They can also be used to name the owner of a garden or create a themed series of stepping stones. Like other garden plaques, they can include both words and pictures.

Garden plaques can make great gifts for birthdays and holidays.

Cast resin is the most popular type of material for garden plaques because it is lightweight for wall hanging, weather resistant for outdoor use, and suitable for detailed designs. Other garden plaques are made of stones such as granite or slate, metals such as bronze, or other materials.