Sneezing In The Drought

Pollen is the way of the plant. It's a fine mist of genetic propagation, the evolutionary way to find a mate when you don't have legs. The idea is to release your half the DNA spiral in the open market and let it land where it may. Not efficient unless you can release an army when all you really need is a sharp shooter.

The air is laden with pollen and many who are not plants react not so kindly to it. Allergies to cedar pollen for example can near cripple those who react to it. Mother Nature has a nice rinsing system to periodically reduce air-borne pollens. It sends down rain.

Unless of course you happen to live in the 70% of the country that is abnormally dry or worse, in the even drier 50% (half) of the U.S. that is currently in drought. The absence of rain has made a preponderance of pollen. Drought also makes for windy days and dry air (the wind from extreme surface heating, the dry air from no soil moisture). This only makes the pollen more available and the nose tenderer to the allergens.

The dry weather usually translates to warmer temperatures and a quicker start to spring (more pollen) and slower end to the growing season (more pollen).

So if you are like many of us, a sufferer to the plant breeding technique known as random pollen exchange, be especially thankful of the recent rains. It's a washing system of the air we breathe. Don't worry about the plants. They'll take that rain and just make more.

And wait for the next sunny, windy day.