Pollen, Pollen Everywhere!

  Folks usually have the idea that pollen season is in the spring.  While that may be accurate, it is incomplete.  Pollen can occur any time of year.  Right now, the Bayou is tinted yellow with pollen from ragweed.  Both ragweed and goldenrod are in full bloom around here.  Between the two, ragweed is the bane of all those with allergies.  It is a rare thing for someone to be allergic to goldenrod.  To cause problems, the pollen has to be windblown.  Ragweed does, indeed, have windblown pollen but goldenrod does not.  The goldenrod depends on insects for pollination.  The goldenrod has sweet nectar that attracts the insects to do the job.  The pollen is not floating about the air causing watery eyes, sneezing and headaches.  Put the blame where it belongs...on the ragweed.

  This morning, I headed to the pier to check the crab traps.  At first, I was fully distracted by the big, ole gator that was lingering by the mouth of the Bayou.  This gator demands attention by its sheer size alone.  It is huge!  After a bit, my attention turned to a yellow sheen atop the water.  At the marsh edge, the rising tide left interesting patterns as the filmy pollen wrapped around the grasses.  The long feathery streaks seemed to be clinging for dear life to the grasses.  As I peered into the water, I pondered how many folks would be heading to the drug store this morning asking for their allergy meds. Goofy ragweed and its airborne pollen wreaks havoc on some folks' sinuses.