Lucky signs of spring

Welcome, everyone. If you suffer from the dreaded triskaidekaphobia (answer at the end of the column), here are some plants that can potentially also mess with your fragile mojo.

Parsley is sometimes associated with the devil, and gifting parsley is thought to bring bad luck. Thorny plants – such as cactus, roses, holly and crown of thorns – are said to cause emotional friction and radiate argumentative energy into the home. Creeping vines, like ivy, can represent entrapment and decay while eroding harmony.

Dead or dried plants depict decay and neglect, creating “dead zones.” Sickly or unhealthy plants can quickly drain a room’s vibrancy. Some advise avoiding mistletoe, a parasitic plant that in Norse mythology is linked to death and betrayal and has toxic berries.

Oleander is lethally poisonous and symbolically treacherous, with a beautiful exterior concealing destructive outcomes. Pointed-leaf plants – such as yucca or snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue) – are also thought by some to cause divisive influences.

Now for the “lucky plants.” The money tree plant (Pachira aquatica) is said to be most effective when placed in the southeast corner of a home. Anthurium, whose blooms can last up to eight weeks, is believed to attract good fortune. Other plants sometimes considered lucky include ficus trees, jasmine, date palms, eucalyptus, citrus trees and bay laurel.

Plants believed to keep evil at bay include lavender, rosemary, sage and, of course, garlic.

Little clovers

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday the 17th), let’s examine the shamrock vs. the four-leaf clover. The word shamrock comes from the Gaelic “seamróg,” meaning “little clover.” The three-leaf clover, or shamrock, represents the Holy Trinity and is the national flower of Ireland.

The very rare genetic anomaly of the four-leaf clover occurs about once in every 10,000 plants. This mutation symbolizes luck, faith, hope and love and is believed to protect against evil, bad mojo and the dreaded “evil eye.”

So all shamrocks are clovers, but not all clovers are shamrocks. Both belong to the genus Trifolium (Latin: tri, meaning three, and folium, meaning leaf), which includes more than 300 species. Clover flowers can be purple, green or white.

Watch out for an imposter called the false shamrock, or oxalis. It may be purple or green and has heart-shaped leaves, but it is not a true clover.

The phrase “luck of the Irish” likely originated during the 19th-century American gold rush, when Irish American miners were known for striking it rich.

Pancake season

An encouraging sign of approaching spring is the 60th annual Chatham Township Sugarbush all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at 6299 Avon Lake Road. The event is held Saturdays and Sundays in March from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Nothing promotes unity in the community like sharing homemade meals with family, friends and neighbors. Yours truly will be flipping pancakes on the griddle – earning my sweat equity to obtain some cherished crushed eggshells (from the pancake batter) for my composter and garden plants. See everyone there.

Let’s close with an Irish drinking toast: “May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”

Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13.

Until we meet again – Síocháin (Irish for peace).