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Experience: I’ve found a four-leaf clover every day for three years

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July 3, 2026 · 1:28 PM
Experience: I’ve found a four-leaf clover every day for three years

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Walter Jenkins Jr: ‘The probability of finding a four-leaf clover is said to be between one in 5,000 or 10,000.’ Photograph: Jared Soares/The Guardian

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Walter Jenkins Jr: ‘The probability of finding a four-leaf clover is said to be between one in 5,000 or 10,000.’ Photograph: Jared Soares/The Guardian

ExperienceLife and style

Experience: I’ve found a four-leaf clover every day for three years

Decades after my father’s death, I was still angry about losing him. Finding a good-luck symbol set me on a new path

Walter Jenkins Jr

Fri 3 Jul 2026 00.00 EDT Last modified on Fri 3 Jul 2026 03.04 EDT

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S umter, South Carolina, where I grew up, was nicknamed “Murk City”. It’s not all bad, but it has a history of gun violence and crime. I’m a rapper, and a lot of my early inspiration came from my past experiences – overcoming struggles within my home town and grief after the passing of my father.

The 28th anniversary of his death was on 21 May 2023. It was always a tough day, because he died when I was only 11. The anger I had over his loss grew to the point where I couldn’t deal with it and wanted to lash out at those around me.

That day, I locked myself away in my apartment in mourning. But the next day I woke up with a strong sensation that I needed to go outside. It was as if I was being pulled out to my yard, where there was a patch of grass.

I knelt on the floor admiring the grass, which wasn’t something I’d usually do, but it was very soothing. I then saw a four-leaf clover poking out of a clover patch. I took it as a sign that my dad was finally at peace, and so I could also be at peace. I said, “Thanks Dad,” as I put the leaf safely in my wallet.

Within 12 days, I had found four more. I decided to start spending time each day finding four-leaf clovers.I’ve now found at least one for 1,091 consecutive days. In Celtic mythology, each leaf represents a different thing: faith, hope, love and God’s grace – which is often taken to be good luck.

The probability of finding a four-leaf clover is said to be between one in 5,000 or 10,000. The extra “leaf” – technically a leaflet – is caused by a gene mutation, and if the anomaly is found in one patch, that patch is more likely to keep producing four-leaf clovers.

Now I collect anything from 15 to 100 a day and make videos about them; I even find them when it’s snowing, although it’s a bit more difficult. I have go-to spots to look for them, sometimes spending eight to 10 hours a day just hiking to find them. I’ve built up a community on social media of fellow collectors from around the world. Even if I go on holiday, I’m still able to find them, and then I share my finds with the other collectors online; I’ve found clovers in four states of the US, the District of Columbia, and 15 cities.

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Walter Jenkins Jr with some of his finds. Photograph: Jared Soares/The Guardian

When I find one, I’ll keep it in my wallet then go home to dry it between heavy books before preserving it between laminate. I now have hundreds of photo albums with all of my finds. I gift out thousands of clovers every year. I like to randomly hand them to people to give them a boost, passing them to delivery drivers, wait staff, and people shopping for groceries or waiting for the bus.

I like to randomly give them to people,to give thema boost

Some people online question whether the clovers I find are real. Some people can’t imagine finding one, which is why I think they have a hard time believing it. But growing up in the surroundings I did, I was always on the look out for danger, and learned to be observant, especially around the kind of crowds that were around me. I believe that has helped me find so many. I also spend much of my spare time researching clover lore and mythologies.

Sometimes I wonder if I have enough to make it into the Guinness World Records – the current record holder has 118,791. I stopped counting my collection in 2023, when I had 2,500. I dread to think how long it would take for me to count them all now.

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Being in nature so much has been incredibly healing; I now make music about luck and clovers. Finding a lucky clover a day has helped me become a better person and make those around me smile.

Like snowflakes, no two clovers are the same and my collection has helped me celebrate imperfections and embrace the uniqueness all around me in this world. I appreciate the magic of discovering these rare beauties. Some people only find peace after passing away; I feel incredibly lucky to have found it while alive.

As told to Elizabeth McCaffertey

Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@theguardian.com

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Guardian Pick

Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure discussion remains on topics raised by the writer. Please be aware there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site.

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CommunityMod6 hours ago

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I’ve lived most of my life on a farm - I find a lot of 4 leaf clovers normally when I feel I need a bit of luck and it seems to make me lucky (I know that’s a mindset thing but I am lucky). I’ve found many 5 leaf clovers, a few with 6 leaves and after half a lifetime of looking - a 7 leaf which I taped to a bit of card and carry in my wallet.

Jump to comment

Philm40006 hours ago

17

Guardian Pick

Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure discussion remains on topics raised by the writer. Please be aware there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site.

Jump to comment

CommunityMod6 hours ago

Staff

0

Guardian Pick

I’ve lived most of my life on a farm - I find a lot of 4 leaf clovers normally when I feel I need a bit of luck and it seems to make me lucky (I know that’s a mindset thing but I am lucky). I’ve found many 5 leaf clovers, a few with 6 leaves and after half a lifetime of looking - a 7 leaf which I taped to a bit of card and carry in my wallet.

Jump to comment

Philm40006 hours ago

17

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