Spring just arrived March 20 but for weeks I’ve been sweeping away signs of the season.
Tree pollen — yellow, powdery and sticky — is layered so thick on my patio that it looks like splotches of oil paint.
The live oak flowers on the ground in my backyard are piled so thick they look like the shag carpet popular about the time my condo was built in the 1980s.
Someone, who would scowl if I used her name, blew her nose the other day and, I’m not April fooling, her nose was filled with tree pollen.
I suspect we have what’s called a “trigger tree” in the backyard, which can expose an allergy sufferer to 10 times more pollen than another similar tree down the block.
I asked my allergist about changing my prescription for the season and he replied, “Allergy season is like tourist season in Florida. It’s year-round.”
Consider this: We endure pollen from oaks and pines October through May, grass pollen April to October and ragweed May through December.
I guess that covers all 12 months.
But really, in March and April, the pollen season peaks, providing a reason other than the pandemic to wear face masks.
The forecast at pollen.com March 25 showed pollen levels at medium-high for the island that day and the day before, with oak, juniper and nettle as top allergens.
Other culprits this time of year include bayberry and maple.
Even the beaches aren’t safe havens for hay fever sufferers, as airborne pollen can travel hundreds of miles, and the wild grasses on the shore can contribute to allergies.
The island’s pollen level throughout March? Not a day below medium-high.
And the five-day forecast? “High” times five.
Prior to moving to Florida from Chicago, I didn’t experience any seasonal allergies. My Florida hay fever may be due to exposure to unfamiliar allergens or simply the onset of seasonal allergies in adulthood, which can occur with rapidity.
Despite the runny nose, scratchy throat and allergic shiners under my eyes, I do love springtime on and around the island.
The tabebuia tree showering bright yellow blooms is nothing to sneeze at while the bougainvillea, flaunting pink flowers, and the jacaranda, stunning in a showy purple, can stop me in my tracks.
Happy spring.
Did you know?
Rainy days can provide some relief for allergy sufferers but thunderstorms can intensify pollen levels. Pollen grains can be carried by wind produced in storms and rupture, leading to increased allergic reactions during storms, known as “thunderstorm asthma.”
Arbor Day ahead
National Arbor Day is celebrated Friday, April 30.
The island cities, in partnership with the state and Keep Manatee Beautiful, usually hold tree-planting ceremonies.
Also, the Arbor Day Foundation offers 10 trees to new members to plant at home or donate to a forest. Species for the area include Eastern red cedar, Eastern redbud, live oak, bald cypress, river birch, white dogwood and crape myrtle.
For more information, go online to arborday.org.