GROW YOUR OWN LUCK
I am a firm believer in ‘thoughts become things’ but how about growing your own luck?
New for 2020, seed specialist Mr Fothergill is offering shamrock seeds, which can be grown in pots all year round.
Clover and shamrock are often confused and it’s not surprising.
Clover, also known as a trefoil, is the common name for various species of plants in the Trifolium family. Perhaps the most distinguishable feature of clovers is their alternate compound leaves, which usually have three smaller leaflets – or very rarely four, which is considered lucky.
Shamrock is actually a Gaelic word meaning ‘little clover’, and whilst is often used to refer to types of clovers, it should be noted that the term is not actually associated with any specific clover species. There are over 500 different species of Oxalis that are commonly known as Sorrels or Shamrocks too, and many of them are considered to be weeds.
A clover must have three leaves to be considered a shamrock. If the clover has more or less, then it is not a shamrock. Hence, all shamrocks are clovers, but not all clovers are shamrocks. There is also debate in the botanist community about which plant family shamrocks truly belong to. I told you it was confusing.
You will see some amazing things in nature if you take the time to look. I try to share as many of them as I can with you and this week is no exception. Whilst gently clearing a flowerbed of last year’s leaves, I found that the pointed tips of some developing bluebell leaves had pierced an old autumn leaf. (see photo). Amazing power really; you would have expected the leaves to have just dislodged the leaf as they grew, but no, speared right though! The tips of spring bulbs are notoriously strong – especially snowdrops – to enable them to push through the toughest of ground, and even ice, if necessary. I suppose, bearing that in mind, spearing a leaf was a breeze!
The three leaves of a shamrock are said to stand for faith, hope and love. A fourth leaf stands for luck as is the case with a clover. It is a rare genetic mutation which is responsible for the extra lucky leaf, although whilst filming in St David’s for BBC Wales years ago, I recall a gardener actually growing a four-leafed clover plant. Although considered lucky, he had no luck in propagating it and neither did I – although I have found a few four leafed clovers in my lifetime.
Anyway, much easier to grow the shamrock from Mr Fothergills and hope for a four-leafer. The seeds make great presents - and not just for St Patrick’s Day - and are easy to pop in the post with a card. The easyto-grow seedlings will appear in just a few weeks from sowing.
RRP £2.15 for 1400 seeds and available from most garden centres or www.mr-fothergills.co.uk