White clover, Trifolium repens.
Finding 4-leaf clovers... it seems to be my one natural talent. Other people's natural talents often lead to fame or fortune, if they are born with a nice singing voice, say, or the ability to draw. Mine, not so much, although it can sometimes impress people at picnics.
Certain clover patches seem to contain more than others. I haven't found too many here, so I usually don't pick them, on the off chance that it will make the patch produce more. (I have no idea how they are produced, and google searches have proven unsatisfying.)
I wish that I had picked this one, and dried it to send to my nephew. He should have arrived in Afghanistan by now, and could probably use some luck.
That's a cool talent. Unless you just glued that fourth leaf on the clover..
ReplyDeleteAll the best to your nephew..
My grandmother had that talent. Her cookbooks that I use now are full of dried four-leaf clovers. I can't even imagine how old some of them are. Your nephew would love it I'm sure if you sent him one.
ReplyDeletei haven't found one since i was a kid - i used to be pretty good at it too. but, i'm ashamed to admit that i haven't looked either.
ReplyDeletei'd definitely send one to your nephew - you could laminate it into a little card for him to carry with him. couldn't hurt.
I used to be good at that when I was a kid too. My uncle Ray's backyard always had a lot of them, and we could all get sufficiently distracted by looking for them while the adults were socializing and/or cooking. He always had great food, too.
ReplyDeleteI've got a burgundy oxalis under the tropicals in the front garden that seems to throw a lot of four-leafers. Hmm, watch out or you might be setting off a movement to send your nephew four-leaf clovers from everywhere.
Anyway, good luck to him.
I recall spending a lot of time as a child combing fields for four-leaf clovers. I wasn't successful enough to call it a talent, but I did manage to find a few. I've never been a particularly superstitious person, but the fortuitous nature of finding a four-leaf clover did always seem to perk me up.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I could do with spending some time in the fields again...
Aw, that's very nice. I think the picture is a good way to go: that way we can ALL have a little luck from it, and your nephew especially.
ReplyDeleteI knew a couple in Nebraska who would find, press and laminate those into a little poem card, and give them out to random people at a parade, etc. One of the only 4-leaf clovers I've ever "found"- I don't have the talent of finding them, alas.
You could always make some "lucky" soap with a four leaf clover in it, and turn it into a marketable talent.
ReplyDeleteI wish your nephew well, and will think of him when ever I turn my thoughts to the Canadians serving there. I'm sure he'd appreciate the four leaf clover, if only because it is something from home. I remember my Grandpa talking about how much they enjoyed packages from home, about their only bright spot in that sea of darkness that was the Great War.
Best of luck to your nephew.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I have that talent too, but never knew anyone else that did. It drives my family nuts that I can walk along and just stoop down and pick one up. We had a little contest one day and my kids found a few each, my husband found exactly none and I found 18, all with about 12 minutes. Needless to say, he wouldn't speak to me for a while. lol. I think we have a cool talent!
ReplyDeleteOh, and the fourth leaf - a simply deformity. (bummer) I've found 5, 6 and even 7 leaved clovers. They sell a 4 leaf clover plant now, but I can't remember where I saw it for sale.
My father has that talent, I don't but I did once find four within seconds of each other. Haven't managed to find any others since then. Nor can I find those four again - I'm sure I pressed them into a book.
ReplyDeleteIs your nephew Canadian? I hope he is ok and gets to see the good side of Afghan culture while he's over there.
Thanks everybody. We did hear from my nephew. He's apparently arrived safely in the middle of nowhere, where it has rained a lot and is cold at night and he has already managed to break his digital camera! I'm hoping when he finally gets settled we can get some email and an address from him. I think that he's not at his final destination yet.
ReplyDeleteNo, he's not Canadian, he's American.
I'm in on this late, but your nephew's good luck is that he has an aunt and others who carry him in their hearts. We thank him for his service and are proud of all the remarkable young people who serve.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from Laura at somewhere in nj.
ReplyDeleteI read that scientists have isolated the gene that makes a clover release four leaves, and can just make them whenever they want.
Takes the fun out of it, eh?