The Good, the Bad, and the Sneezy

Spring fever is in full swing as March temperatures continue to climb well above average. Many Oklahomans have not missed the past two winters of record breaking cold and blizzards. While some are taking advantage of the warmer temperatures, they are also discovering that a couple of not so pleasant issues have entered into the picture.

First of all, flowers and trees are budding earlier than normal as many of you with allergy issues can certainly testify to. When you combine that with the strong late winter/early spring winds, it can be nearly unbearable for some. The cedar pollen in particular continues to remain problematic with tree pollen sufferers experiencing miserable sniffling and sneezing. If high temperatures continue to peak in the 70s and 80s, the grass pollen will not be far behind.

Secondly, the grasshoppers and mosquitoes are apparently conspiring to execute a hostile takeover. According to Scott Lancaster, owner of All Seasons Landscaping in Edmond, he counted 3 grasshoppers and 9 mosquitoes yesterday. While that wasn't overly concerning to me, he had this to say: "For the normal person that doesn't really know that's a very, very bad thing." Thanks Scott, next time just let me continue on in ignorant bliss. While the grasshoppers don't bother me all that much, I'm pretty sure mosquitoes zero in on me like MOAR on a hook echo.

Even with all of that, spring is still my favorite season with fall a close second.