By Sara Thompson
Special to the Enterprise
With over 300 species, clover is one of the most common and easily grown plants. Best grown in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, some clover species have been found in South America and parts of Africa. Commonly thought of as a weed, many try to rid their yards and gardens of clover, but recently we have realized there are several benefits clover can offer.
Clover is a member of the Fabaceae family, which includes legumes. Best recognized by its three leaves, some with more leaves have been discovered before. Four-leaf clovers are often sought after as they are believed to bring good luck. To date, the World Record of number of leaves found on a clover is 56. A shamrock is often attributed to clover but can also be other three-leaf plant varieties. Often used as a symbol of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day, the word “shamrock” comes from the Irish work seamrog which means “young clover”.
Clover is usually grown to be used for animal feed, with the white and red clover varieties being the most used. Farmers have long known that fields that grew clover had better soil for other crops on subsequence years. Like other legumes, clover is a nitrogen fixer. It takes nitrogen from the air and converts it into a compound essential for the soil health. The use of clover as a rotation crop causes the soil to not need synthetic fertilizer to add nitrogen or ammonia to the soil.
For decades, clover was thought of as a weed and was often removed from yards and gardens. In recent years clover has been making a comeback in yards. It is one of the first plants to become green and thrive in the spring, even in areas experiencing drought. Growing clover attracts bees and other pollinators, helping to pollinate other crops and plants. Being a nitrogen fixer, having clover in your lawn and gardens can help reduce your need for fertilizer and help keep you other plants healthy and thriving.
More after-school camps are happening in April and May! Camps will be Monday-Friday from 3:30-5:30 for students in grades K-6. Price is $120 Members/$145 Non-Members. Additional information and registration can be found at https://www.explorit.org/camps.
Explorit's coming events:
• Summer camp is back! These weeklong camps will be filled with science and fun from 8:00-11:15am each day. Camp price is $175 for Members/$200 for Non-Members. Registration begins Wednesday, March 24, 2021, so grab a spot early. Visit https://www.explorit.org/camps for more information.
• Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the health and safety of our staff and visitors, our gallery will remain closed. Staff regularly check messages and email.
• Like many small businesses the closures have had a significant impact on our income and sustainability. Now is a great time to donate and help Explorit continue to educate and inspire the scientists of tomorrow: https://www.explorit.org/donate.
• Continue to support Explorit during this uncertain time by becoming a member. An Exploit Membership not only support us but grants the recipient with free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours, discounts on events, summer and after-school camps, and workshops, and gives you ASTC benefits to visit other museums throughout the world. For more information visit https://www.explorit.org/membership or call Explorit at 530-756-0191.