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I am knee-deep in thick mud, picking up horse manure in a pasture that is flooded with water. It has been a difficult winter for those who spend a lot of time outside. East Anglia has documented its most rainy (and hottest) February ever recorded, with countless dull days of continuous rain.

Reworked: Removing manure from the pasture helps maintain its attractiveness and decreases the risk of horses getting infected with parasitic worms, but it requires dedication. My wheelbarrow is almost overflowing with waste and the steep incline ahead is daunting. I contemplate giving up, potentially stuck in the mud with my body drained of energy. However, I continue on, pausing to catch my breath and feeling my heart beating rapidly.

As I cast my gaze downward, I am drawn to a cluster of clovers. Yet among them, I spot a rare find – a four-leaf clover. In awe, I raise it up to the sky with my chilled and dirty hands. This Celtic symbol has long been believed to ward off negative forces, with each leaf representing faith, hope, love, and luck. Energized by its power, I conquer the summit of the hill.

I have frequently pondered if I am exceptionally fortunate due to my consistent discoveries of a few four-leaf clovers every year. However, I attribute my luck to the amount of time I am able to spend in their natural habitat, even in unfavorable conditions such as a bog. I like to preserve the four-leaf clovers by pressing them between the pages of a book.

Although they are widely considered to be scarce, four-leaf clovers are actually quite rare. While the commonly referenced probability is one in 10,000, a recent study of 7 million clovers in central Europe showed that the likelihood is closer to one in 5,000. This extra leaf is believed to be the result of a specific mix of a recessive gene and outside influences like temperature, making them more common in warmer climates.

Red clover has been used in pastures for a long time. As far back as 1645, there is evidence of it being planted as feed for cattle. Nodules on its roots have the ability to convert nitrogen from the air into nitrates, which are necessary for plant growth. Using clover as a source of nitrogen is more environmentally friendly than using nitrogen fertilizers, which have a high carbon footprint.

It seems unimaginable to me, but very soon clover flowers will be rich with nectar, attracting bumble bees and other pollinators. I’ll make pink lemonade from red clover heads and forget all about the endless days of mud.

Source: theguardian.com