Over the Hedge by T Lewis and Michael Fry for April 13, 2021

The dark truth behind the Weed-Whacker incident.

RJ needs Allegra.

If he were a human, I’d say not to go out during the day. But…

It’s mostly tree jizz.

It’s grass, not flowers. Flowers need pollinators. It’s the plants whose pollen is delivered by the wind that cause the problems (mostly).

Around here, the pine trees have turned everything yellow, including the insides of my lungs.

Didn’t RJ’s family get killed by a weed whacker?

Pine trees are big pollinators and a weed whacker will hardly suffice.

We have horse-chestnut in the city. Right now when there’s a bit of wind it looks like it is snowing. And you get plenty of those dratted things in your hair.

Did RJ try holding his breath?

You can’t cut down every flower the Earth is covered with them, thankfully.

Almost all of the local pollen is from trees, too early for grasses.

turns my blue car a rather hideous greenish color

Yup here in PDX OR also

Flowers are not the principal cause of hayfever anyway, it is the plants like grasses that do not use insects to pollinate….

This time of year in northern Virginia, it’s the trees making us sneeze. Specifically, maple, elm, and cedar/juniper.

Curse you, angiosperms!

There are hundreds of plant species that release pollen into the air and trigger allergic reactions.

Here are some of the more common culprits:

Birch pollen allergy

Birch pollen is one of the most common airborne allergens during the spring. As the trees bloom, they release tiny grains of pollen that are scattered by the wind.

A single birch tree can produce up to 5 million pollen grains, with many traveling distances of up to 100 yards from the parent tree.

Oak pollen allergy

Like birch trees, oak trees send pollen into the air during the spring.

While oak pollen is considered to be mildly allergenic compared to the pollen of other trees, it stays in the air for longer periods of time. This can cause severe allergic reactions in some people with pollen allergies.

Grass pollen allergy

Grass is the primary trigger of pollen allergies during the summer months.

It causes some of the most severe and difficult-to-treat symptoms. However, the AAAAI reports that allergy shots and allergy tablets can be highly effective in relieving symptoms of grass pollen allergies.

Ragweed pollen allergy

Ragweed plants are the main culprits of allergies among weed pollens. They’re the most active between the late spring and fall months.

Depending on the location, however, ragweed may begin spreading its pollen as early as the last week of July and continue into the middle of October. Its wind-driven pollen can travel hundreds of miles and survive through a mild winter.

https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/pollen#types

I’d advise RJ to wear a mask, but how would it stay on?