It’s said that St. Patrick used the three leaves of Ireland’s native clover to teach the island’s Celtic (read: pagan) inhabitants about the holy trinity. As such, the shamrock is a hallowed bit of flora. While the three-leaf is common, the four-leaf is not and so is considered quite the lucky charm. And if that’s the case, then Brian Downie is overflowing with good fortune. Downie, who recently moved from Seattle to Santa Barbara, has been a four-leaf clover hunter for years. “Back in Seattle, I actually found a couple hundred four-leaf clovers,” Downie said in an email. “I am excited that I’ve been able to find some since moving down here.”

In October, two weeks after arriving in town, the 25-year-old found 18 four-leaf clovers near Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens. Then he came across 11 more in the same area, and 25 more (and counting) since then. “I have actually beaten (multiple times now) a world record, according to the World Record Academy,” said Downie, who was born on St. Patrick’s Day. “However, they won’t officially recognize it unless I pay approximately $1,000 to have the feat published.”

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