4 leaf clovers: two years ago

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Ok, I'm going to break the rules a bit here. This specimens may not be collected on this day, but it sure has the vibes of the day.  So, please forgive me.

This specimen of white clover (Trifolium repens) was collected by my family and me on May 26, 2024 on a lovely afternoon visit to the playground at Legion Keener Park in Latrobe, PA.

My wife actually was first to notice. Not just one, but MANY, four-leaf clovers. The covered the lawn. I can't say I've seen that before. It was fun to explore the lawn, finding as many as we could, hidden among the three-leaf clovers and grass. It was a lucky day. 

I didn't have my plant press with me.  But I used my son's book to press the leaves.  He had to look out the window on the way home, instead of his normal reading.

I wonder if the lawn at this park has four-leaf clovers every year?  I'll have to go back and look!

I've been meaning to do a survey to see how many four-leaf clovers exist in herbarium collections around the world. Carnegie Museum has at least a few, including one from 1763!  There's a lot more to post on this. I might get my act together in time for next St. Paddy's Day for that follow up post. 

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