#tap root

Plant of the Day

Saturday 10 May 2025

Scientists are still divided on how best to categorise Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) species, as they can be broken down into microspecies based on their DNA. But at this time of year the Orkney landscape has fields full of them creating a great food source especially for the bumblebees.

The Scientific Research Notes Of S. Sunkavally (years: 2002-2011).

Tap Root

Drawn with color pens. © 2018 objet discret

This is my 100th post! Thank you all for your support. ♥

Last week I found a cat hanging around our chicken pen near the back of our garden. I scared it off, and when checking where it had got to in a thicket of brambles I discovered a walnut tree. At, least I think it's a walnut. About eight feet tall, and a good five years old, or more.

I couldn't leave it there, too close to the drainage area for our septic tanks for a tree that grows so large. And I couldn't resist gaining a free walnut tree. So with the Head Chef’s agreement I spent a few hours digging it out and replanting in the main garden (picture below). It was very hard work!

I don't know if it will make it. There's a limit to how much root ball one person can shift. Plus walnuts have a strong tap root which I had to cut through. It was a good challenge though, and we could make good use of the walnuts in due course.