Garden Thermometer Materials And How They Weather

A garden thermometer offers one main function; it displays the temperature. But you sometimes find one that does other things, too--most notably, telling the time of day. While you may find some of these with plain faces, you can use others as decorative accents, as well. Outdoor thermometers come in several attractive finishes, including copper, bronze, and pewter. Many have been molded with decorative designs (grapevines, pinecones, sun faces, trees, and birds, for instance). The combinations of these different facets make outdoor thermometers not just a matter of function, but also a matter of taste.

One question you might have as you shop for a garden thermometer is how the material weathers. Copper, or a mostly-copper alloy, is the orangey-brown metal we see in American pennies, old plumbing lines, and the Statue of Liberty. Copper doesn't react with water, so precipitation isn't really a problem if you own a copper thermometer. Fresh copper actually displays a more pinkish shade, but when oxygen reacts with copper, the surface tarnishes to shades of orange or brown. Of course, you may think the Statue of Liberty is copper, and it doesn't look orange or brown. That's because the oxygen sometimes forms a greenish material called verdigris, which is precisely what you see when you look at the Statue of Liberty.

Bronze is actually an alloy, or mixture, of copper and other materials (usually tin, aluminum, zinc, or a few others). For centuries, it has been a popular choice for all types of metal work. Archaeology digs have produced a number of bronze artifacts from earlier civilizations. Bronze typically endures weathering quite well. In more recent years, it has been used for numerous outdoor sculptures and other decorative elements. Even if you find the need to clean a bronze thermometer, a small amount of water and mild soap can loosen any dirt. Without maintenance, it should maintain its rich brown color for years to come.

Pewter is a silver-colored alloy. Although it has sometimes been used as a core for silver-plated items, pewter is not actually silver, as people sometimes think. Pewter's main ingredient is tin. The remainder usually consists of copper or antimony, which hardens the tin. For many years, pewter served as a primary material for everyday dishes, such as flatware, plates, mugs, and teapots. In more recent years, however, it has shifted to mostly decorative items, like figurines, collectible spoons and thimbles, special serving dishes, and of course, outdoor thermometers. Pewter has long been appreciated for its resistance to tarnishing. As a result, it also makes a good choice for your garden thermometer.

Copper, bronze, and pewter certainly don't represent the entirety of your choices when you shop for a garden thermometer. However, this overview of their looks and weathering patterns should give you confidence to select high-quality items that will match your garden colors and require little maintenance, cleaning, or polishing from you. Outdoor thermometers work just as well indoors, too, whether in sunrooms, kitchens, living rooms, dens, or offices.