The Garden Rooms

A series of meditative spaces or rooms are arrayed around the Central Plaza of Honor. Each room is planted in a specific color to represent a core value or character trait common to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

• Red represents Courage. Flowers include: Paprika Yarrow, Autumn Joy Sedum, Phlox “Scarlet Flame”, “Limerock Ruby” Tickseed, Firepower Nandina, Japanese Blood Grass, Min Toy Daylily
• Orange represents Duty & Service. Flowers include: Lowboy Pyracantha, Sundown Coneflower, Tuscawilla Tigress Daylily, Butterfly Weed, Red Hot Poker, Orange Summer Phlox
• Yellow represents Remembrance. Flowers include: Gold Splash Euonymus, Golden Mop False Cypress, Golden Japanese Barberry, Carolina Moonlight False Indigo, Sun Power Hosta, “Lemon Silver” Evening Primrose, Bowies Golden Sedge, “Moonbeam” Tickseed
• Green represents Healing. Flowers include: Lady’s Mantle, Silver Variegated Sedge, Lime Rickey Coral Bells, Goldmound Spiraea, Plantain Lily, Martin’s Spurge, Scotch Moss, Bright Edge Yucca, Limelight Hydrangea
• Blue represents Fidelity. Flowers include: Blue Star Juniper, Rozanne Geranium, Blue Mist Spiraea, Blue Cadet Hosta, Spiderwort, Speedwell, False Indigo, Blue Star, Blue Fescue
• Purple represents Valor. Flowers include: New York Aster, Crimson Pygmy Barberry, Greyfeather, Dwarf Russian Sage, May Night Salvia, Black Mondo Grass, Catmint, Dwarf Beautyberry
• White represents Honor

The Garden brings to life these core ideals and roots them in the ground to allow these noble characteristics to come alive.

The center of the Plaza holds a bubbling fountain, symbolizing cleansing, joy and renewal as well as hope of ever-flowing life. On the black granite Walls of Honor between the Plaza of Honor and the garden rooms, are inscribed the names of the fallen in war on terror from Pennsylvania. The front Wall of Honor lists the names of the fallen from York County since the inception of the Gold Star Mothers during World War I.

As you visit the Garden, each season the earth will bring forth its therapeutic qualities in color, fragrance and texture, making it a living memorial. Designed as a place of active remembrance, the Garden offers a space apart to meditate, remember and celebrate the lives of those listed on the Walls of Honor.

Begin in the Red Room and stroll the Walk of the Intrepid. Emerge from the Garden feeling restored and full of appreciation for those brave men and women willing to serve and give their lives for our freedom.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”

— Ode of Rememberance, Laurence Binyon’s “For the Fallen”