====== Spruce Patch ======

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The Spruce Patch is anchored by a large, mature conifer (likely a spruce or Douglas fir) whose canopy creates deep shade and a distinctly woodland atmosphere. The area transitions toward the [[garden:monkey_puzzle_strip|Monkey Puzzle Strip]] and supports a range of acid-loving plants that thrive at the forest edge.

{{https://immich.macduff.info/api/assets/4f26a862-1f8d-4f0b-967e-decc2a52a956/thumbnail?key=nOfPG3UZQUQMLK2xpVu-9nSxgabfIf7Od8Xa_qXphTLLq2KFUywlg5vIQtIIUFAMTKo&size=preview|The Spruce Patch — large conifer with companion shrub, March 2026}}

===== Plants =====

^ Plant ^ Type ^ Season of Interest ^ Page ^
| [[garden:spruce_patch:spruce|Large Conifer (Spruce/Fir)]] | Evergreen conifer | Year-round structure | [[garden:spruce_patch:spruce|→]] |
| [[garden:spruce_patch:white_rhododendron|Early White Rhododendron]] | Deciduous shrub | Early spring flowers (Feb–Mar) | [[garden:spruce_patch:white_rhododendron|→]] |

===== Character =====

The deep shade under the conifer is broken at the edges where the early-flowering deciduous Rhododendron thrives in dappled light. Dead sword fern fronds on the ground in March suggest established ferns that will emerge through the season. The area has a natural, woodland feel.

===== Notes =====

  * Conifer species not yet confirmed — look for cones to identify
  * The early Rhododendron/Azalea is one of the garden's most spectacular early-spring displays
  * Consider underplanting with additional woodland species (ferns, hellebores, snowdrops)