Thought you might like this: Shamrocks Do you know that there is no such think as a "Shamrock" plant? The word shamrock comes from the Irish word, seamrog, meaning "little clover". What is the Original Irish Shamrock? Here is what some respected authorities have to say: The true Irish Shamrock, as identified by Nathaniel Colgan, c. 1893, is a clover. It is not one of any or many clovers, it is one species, collected from a majority of counties at that time and with the exception of a very few plants, the majority were Trifolium repens or a form of the plant Whiteclover also known as Dutch Clover. White clover (T.repens L.) in particular was held in high esteem by the early Celts of Wales as a charm against evil spirits. Saint Patrick used the plant to illustrate the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Shamrocks have been considered by the Irish to be good luck symbols since the earliest times. Identifying a real four-leaf clover is that the fourth leaf is usually smaller than the other three leafs. The leaves symbolize faith, hope, love and luck. You can preserve a four-leaf clover by pressing the clover between pieces of paper placed in a book, or you can press it between wax paper and go over it gently with an iron. You may also seal the leaf in a small jar of alcohol or attach clear adhesive laminate over it and affix it to a card. Submitted by Vicki Clark, Moultrie-Douglas Master Gardener - Vicki Clark I got this from a master gardener's website, hope it's ok that I put it here, here's the website: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/moultriedouglas/hortnews/
Informative, and fun to read. I always pick those four-leaf-clovers and the keep falling out of books and such. I've never figured out quite what to do with them, though.
I made a necklace from a 4-leaf clover once ^_^ I got some cardboard, and I put the clover on it, then I taped it down lol. I was at summer camp, so I had to use what I could scrounge up ^_^ Ive found 5-leaf clovers a few times (even a 6-leaf once! but it wilted and rolled up before I could preserve it)... do those mean anything?
They're supposed to bring luck. I've also found the five-leaved ones, and six-leaved a couple of times too. I managed to preserve one and was rather upset when two of the leaves fell off.
Faith Hope Love and Luck - I must start looking out for them clovers. Thanks for the tip CP. This is one of the things I love about the STew - I always learn new things.
