Memorial Union Annual Flower Gardens Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) frames the Memorial Union. This annual garden is located on the west side of Memorial Union. The large display of color and flowers, changing with the seasons, flanks the two wings of the Memorial Union Tower, built in the 1920s to honor university students who died in World War I. The trees lining the back edge, Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Capital’), gives early spring interest and the shurb, Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Sea Green’), provides evergeen winter interest. Purple Heart Spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’) after a rain storm. First Kiss Blueberry Vinca (Catharanthus roseus ‘First Kiss Blueberry’) interplanted with Purple Heart Spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’) and framed by Colchester White Dusty Miller (Centaurea gymnocarpa ‘Colchester White’) are part of the interwoven 2006 design. The east side of the Memorial Union has many interesting plantings. The flowering of Nearly Wild Rose (Rosa ‘Nearly Wild’) is cut short by winter weather.