Peace Garden

By Sir Terence Conran. Marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the Imperial War Museum's garden takes peace as its central theme.

With a contemporary yet timeless design, it is a place for quiet contemplation, reflection and hope.

To the left is the central structural feature of the Peace Garden, a wooden dovecote, featuring ceramic doves, the traditional emblem of peace.

Flowers are predominantly white with a scattering of scarlet poppies (Papaver rhoeas). The soft and tranquil planting incorporates trees, shrubs and hardy perennials that have traditionally symbolic meanings.

Here to the right you can see the globe heads of Allium 'White', Lilium regale, Rosa 'Remember' (a specially commissioned new white rose, shown at Chelsea for the first time), Tiarella (e.g. Tiarella wherryi), Aconitum 'Ivorine', Alchemilla mollis and Angelica archangelica.

In the image below, along the waters edge you can see a mixed boarder including hostas (Hosta Big Daddy, Hosta Blue Angel, and Hosta Royal Standard), Astilbe Washington, Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light', Pittosporum tenuifolium, and Rosa 'Remember' once again.

Planted along the central path (in the next image) you can see tall spires of Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora (white foxglove), Olea europeae - an oilve tree representing peace, Convallaria majalis - lily of the valley meaning the return of happiness, and Cupressus sempervirens - cypress trees a symbol of mourning.

Other plants in the Peace Garden, but not seen here include: Rosa 'Climbing Iceberg', Trachelospermum jasminoides (a highly scented climber), Jasminum officinale, Hydrangea petiolaris, Wisteria sinensis 'Alba' and Wisteria floribunda 'Alba', Crambe cordifolia, Ballota pseudodictamnus, Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana, Rosmarinus officinalis, Viburnum davidii, Viburnum tinus and Amelanchier lamarckii.

By Sir Terence Conran