Pine shouldn't (usually) be a problem. But all sorts of other things are producing pollen (oaks, hickories, etc). The pine pollen is visible everywhere, but seldom a problem. Jeeze, this is dragging on, even at work it is affecting me.
Right, at about 85 micrometers the average pine pollen grain won't get past the nasal hairs. All the real nasties and the Maples, box elders, Oaks and such that are 20 – 35 micrometers. The pine pollen is just annoying in that it gets all over everything – cars, windows, the floor , dogs. Everything's yellow. I can't wait for rain, then all the yellow will be in huge bands in the creeks.
I go out to my car. I use a soft-bristled brush to sweep the pollen off my car, as I've decided that mixing dry pollen with wiper fluid results in a yellow sludge that really doesn't improve the situation. I then drive at highway speeds over four miles of open water. I get to work, and I have to sweep more fucking pollen off my car!
Driving down the road and seeing the visibility ahead go to near zero from a cloud of smoke that you suddenly realize is pollen blowing out of the sex organs of the stand of pines along the highway is an actual thing now.
C_R, you should join us later this spring/early summer in Nome. We take a 55 gallon barrel of DEET to dunk ourselves. The skeeter clouds are freaking amazing. Do not stop your car to clean the windscreen until well past the mosquito fog bank.
Central Texas is lucky to have mountain juniper AKA cedar trees. The males release pollen in February leading to 'cedar fever' which bedevils a lot of people. The trees do produce berries useful for marinades and making liquors but the Native Americans were smart enough to let fires burn which kept the population and range of the tree controlled. When the whites invaded and claimed the land they put fires out which lead to an infestation of that pestilence among others. Including the whites themselves.
Good idea. I've slowly replaced all the crap ornamental bushes around my place with nice local flowering shrubs | (from these guys, when they have open sales) |. Great for wildlife, more vigorous and prettier, too.
Lose that eucalyptus. It's a terrible forage species (unless you have a nest of Koala) and a genuine fire hazard. Plus, Redwoods are awesome.
It's everywhere. Fucking trees.
You know they release CO2, right? Those bastards.
I know! They pollute more than factories! Reagan said that so it must be true.
Pine shouldn't (usually) be a problem. But all sorts of other things are producing pollen (oaks, hickories, etc). The pine pollen is visible everywhere, but seldom a problem. Jeeze, this is dragging on, even at work it is affecting me.
Clover. I forgot clover. And there is a lot just outside the window …
Alder…
/ ah choo
Pretty decent tonewood, anyway.
Right, at about 85 micrometers the average pine pollen grain won't get past the nasal hairs. All the real nasties and the Maples, box elders, Oaks and such that are 20 – 35 micrometers. The pine pollen is just annoying in that it gets all over everything – cars, windows, the floor , dogs. Everything's yellow. I can't wait for rain, then all the yellow will be in huge bands in the creeks.
I go out to my car. I use a soft-bristled brush to sweep the pollen off my car, as I've decided that mixing dry pollen with wiper fluid results in a yellow sludge that really doesn't improve the situation. I then drive at highway speeds over four miles of open water. I get to work, and I have to sweep more fucking pollen off my car!
The silly trees are trying to have sexytime with your car?
I occasionally pop the wheel covers off my car and… and… OMG TRIGGER WARNING!
Driving down the road and seeing the visibility ahead go to near zero from a cloud of smoke that you suddenly realize is pollen blowing out of the sex organs of the stand of pines along the highway is an actual thing now.
C_R, you should join us later this spring/early summer in Nome. We take a 55 gallon barrel of DEET to dunk ourselves. The skeeter clouds are freaking amazing. Do not stop your car to clean the windscreen until well past the mosquito fog bank.
<img src="http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–E0GOYpxg–/xkghbbd7mqdop84dtv3g.jpg" width="300">
Thanks, that sounds very attractive. I've always wanted to see an exsanguinated moose.
I see your skeeters and raise you Black Flies from ze North Countree:
<img src="http://media.kjonline.com/images/DSCN0601.JPG"/>
Also Too: Tabanus nigrovittatus. On the Salt Marsh, No One Can Hear You Scream.
<img src="http://bugguide.net/images/raw/TL0/ZOL/TL0ZOL0ZDLMZKHQZHH0R9L0RELKZHH6RFZSRCZRZWLHZNL7RFZQRCZJL6LRZ9L7R2LSZ6LQRJZHZ.jpg"/>
Pollentrails!
No mention of whether she winked while saying that.
I sneezed just looking at that gif.
It's like Pompeii out there. But yellow.
Central Texas is lucky to have mountain juniper AKA cedar trees. The males release pollen in February leading to 'cedar fever' which bedevils a lot of people. The trees do produce berries useful for marinades and making liquors but the Native Americans were smart enough to let fires burn which kept the population and range of the tree controlled. When the whites invaded and claimed the land they put fires out which lead to an infestation of that pestilence among others. Including the whites themselves.
Good idea. I've slowly replaced all the crap ornamental bushes around my place with nice local flowering shrubs | (from these guys, when they have open sales) |. Great for wildlife, more vigorous and prettier, too.
Lose that eucalyptus. It's a terrible forage species (unless you have a nest of Koala) and a genuine fire hazard. Plus, Redwoods are awesome.