Sundial

Have you ever noticed how time seems to slow down in a garden? At the Sundial in Fairmount Park’s Horticulture Center, time takes on a tangible form. This isn’t just a timepiece. It’s a work of art. The Sundial, gifted by the Fairmount Park Art Association (now the Association for Public Art), is a beautiful example of Art Nouveau style. Crafted by Alexander Stirling Calder, the sculptor behind the Swann Memorial Fountain and the Shakespeare Memorial, the Sundial sits atop a sculpted limestone base. This base is not merely a support. It’s a tableau of the four seasons. Spring holds a rose, anticipating warmer days. Summer carries poppies, a symbol of the sun’s vibrant reign. Autumn wears grapes in her hair, a reminder of the harvest’s bounty. Winter clutches a pine branch, a symbol of resilience in the cold. Each figure holds an apple bough aloft, her head turned towards the next season, symbolizing the continuous cycle of nature. The bronze dial itself is encircled by the signs of the zodiac, further connecting the passage of time with the celestial dance. The gnomon, while seemingly damaged, still casts its shadow, marking the hours as the sun journeys across the sky. Look closely at the plinth. It is intricately carved with animals of the zodiac, a testament to Calder’s attention to detail. The Sundial whispers a timeless message, inscribed on its rim: “Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your hour doth come.” It’s a gentle reminder to appreciate the present moment, amidst the beauty of nature and art. The Sundial stands 42 inches tall, with a diameter of 50 inches. It was created in 1903 and installed in 1905. As you leave the Horticulture Center, remember the Sundial and its message. Time moves ever forward, but beauty and art endure.