Arnold Hofer next to his clover patch in his backyard in the Alphabet Streets, where he routinely finds four-leaf clovers.
What Does the Five-Leaf Clover Mean?
Fiske Street residents Arnold and Sigrid Hofer alerted Circling the News that Arnold, who regularly finds four-leaf clovers in their backyard, had found a five-leaf one the end of April.
Arnold, a retired tool and dye maker with TRW Inc., and his wife Sigrid have lived in the Alphabet Streets since 1960. The couple was honored in 2010 by the Pacific Palisades Community Council and the City for their cumulative cultural contributions. Sigrid was active at Palisades Elementary and has been a long-time member of the Brentwood-Palisades Chorale. The couple have been active with Theatre Palisades for decades.
A bit of research on the internet found several different interpretations of a five-leaf clover. One site said that, just like a four-leaf clover, it’s a genetic mutation—and that six- and seven-leaf clovers are possible.
The five-leaf clover supposedly brings extra good luck and money. And if you find a six-leaf clover it brings fame. Who could object to fame, fortune and some good luck?
One site said the “estimated statistical odds of finding a four-leaf clover on your first try is 10,000 to 1, and the odds skyrocket to 1,000,000 to 1 if you’re looking to find a five-leaf clover on your first try. (The majority of the clovers you see outside have only three leaves.)
“A lesser-known fact about four-leaf clovers is that they aren’t the luckiest symbol after all. Irish legend indicates that those who find a five-leaf clover will actually have more luck and financial success than those who just find a four-leaf clover.”
Yet, another site said that each leaf on a clover had a different meaning: first is for faith, second for hope, third for love, fourth for luck and fifth for wealth.
A more mystical explanation is that five is powerful number and is symbolic of the harmonic unification of all elements and is symbolic of transition, adventure, travel and unpredictability.
The Guinness World Record for the most leaves on a single clover stem is 56. The plant was found by Shigeo Obara of Hanamaki City, Iwate, Japan, on May 10, 2009.
What if you don’t have time to look for a five-leaf clover? They can be purchased online—the cheapest Circling the News found was $12.95 that would come to your home in a plastic sleeve, but others were in a pendant ($21.95) or a keychain ($23.95).
But then the Hofers might tell you they don’t need luck—just living in Pacific Palisades and raising two sons here was good fortune in itself.
Arnold Hofer found a five-leaf clover (and two four-leaf clovers) in his yard.
They are the nicest couple in the world!!!