Now that's why you need to wear your glasses!!!

I felt like a goose today. I had rung Isabell Shipard's herb farm on Friday with an enquiry about the Sprout and Vegetable Sauerkraut which I had made recently and, seeing as I found myself talking to Isabell herself, I asked her about the Brahmi plant as I wasn't sure that the plant we had growing and thought was Brahmi was actually the real deal. She asked me to send her a photo so that she could identify the plant.

 

I bought the plant some months ago and it was growing slowly during winter then we had a couple of frosts which I don't think the Brahmi liked so we put it under cover to protect it till the frosts were over. I didn't take a lot of notice of it there but it seemed to be growing alright.

 

 

Then the warmer weather came along at the end of a mild winter and the next thing I knew the plant had all these clusters of pink flowers on it and I was very excited as I wanted to start using it as is good for the memory apparently. Any help in that department is appreciated these days.

 

Then hubby came inside with an identical plant with pink flowers that he had found out in the garden somewhere and said that he didn't think we had Brahmi growing anymore. So I took some photos and sent them to Isabell and she replied today that it wasn't Brahmi as the flowers don't grow in clusters like that and she referred me to her herb book which I bought recently and sure enough our plant didn't look like the photo in her book.

 

 

 Brahmi

 

So then I put my glasses on and pulled out the pretty clusters of pink flowers and what did I find languishing beneath....the poor Brahmi!

 



 

 There isn't a lot left but Isabell said to put some liquid seaweed or something similar on it now and to apply it weekly.

 

 

This photo was taken when we first planted it months ago so it looks like it is back to square one with getting it to grow. Hopefully it likes the warm weather and will thrive.

 

I did feel silly sending a photo of goodness knows what to Isabell! Hopefully she had a laugh but I have learned my lesson and from now on I will put my glasses on when I am trying to identify plants.

 

I can recommend Isabell's herb farm for anyone wanting to buy seeds or herbs and I have just ordered some Gotu Kola which apparently helps with the pain caused by arthritis, Pennyroyal which deters ants, flies and fleas and Soapwort which I want to try out as it has detergent qualities.  

 

Glasses are annoying to wear but they do come in handy sometimes! :-)