Bright green
Posted: May 18, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 37 CommentsIt came upon us slowly yesterday. It started with a light dusting of pale green powder on the outdoor chairs. And then we noticed it on the patio this morning, and then on the car. And now, as I look at my office window, I see great clouds of green every time there’s a wind gust.
I’ve never lived in a place with a lot of pine trees, but I guess this is what pine pollen season is like. It’s hard to keep up with it, indoors or out. If you clean a surface, it is covered again in a few minutes. And I have no idea when it will end. If you do, I’d love to hear.
I tried to sketch a few pots in my garden today, but the pollen covered everything. My palette, my brushes, my glasses. It left fine green dust on my water. I decided to record this date in my sketchbook as a warning for next year. And when I finally came in to finish my sketch, I decided to splatter it with bright green because that is indeed the theme of today.
We get yellow pollen over everything, come springtime. I won’t get my car washed until it has stopped falling. It even blows inside my screened-in porch. It’s a mess.
It did blow into the house because we had the windows open but of course now we have closed them and we are vacuuming!
Here in Atlanta pine pollen season lasts about 3 weeks (usually end of March to mid April). Everything is covered in green and makes such a mess!
Hi Harriette. Apparently here it only lasts about a week, which a relief! I will wait to clean everything after that.
I am
happy for you it doesn’t last long! I did pity you a bit. Just moved to a new house and then this happened! A big relief! Only a week! 🙏🏼
Lovely sketch, so many pretty greens!
Thanks Laura!
We get yellow pollen every year for about month. Our evergreens are fir, not pine. Gets on everything, so we have a good, efficient, easy to use blower as well as a powerful power washer.
It’s too cool for me to sit out when the pollen is at its worse, so not sure if it would rain on me the same way, but we do find new drifts daily.
Good luck.
Thanks so much Virginia. Apparently it only lasts about a week here, which is good to know! I hope your season is over!
Ours is a yellow ochre- colored pollen that sprinkles everything outside in early spring. Cars, patio furniture, sidewalks…..everything. Thanks to all the Ashe Juniper and Oaks here in Austin, TX. Doesn’t last long; perhaps a week or two.
Hi Sherry. Thanks for writing. I am relieved to read in all the comments that this doesn’t last too long. It caught me by surprise. Now I will wait for the rain to wash everything clean again!
It ends for us around June. I enjoyed reading this as I have lived with it all my life!
I guess I am a first-timer to pine pollen season. We had other trees in our old neighbourhood but nothing like this!!
Hi Shari, I’ve seen that in the mountains here when the breeze blows through Ponderosa Pine forests causing big clouds of yellow pollen to float around- a pretty amazing site. Hope you don’t have allergies 😉 and that all’s well! ~Tom
HI Tom, It’s great to hear from you. Yes, all is well and no allergies to pollen of any sort. Phew. I hope you are well too.
So beautiful – it sparkles. Green pollen inspires 🙂
I guess it does!! It might be a theme in my sketchbook all week!
Well… the pine pollen falls usually a bit later. I write the dates every year and in 2022, it fell from June 3 to June 12, in 2023 from June 7 to June 16. This year it is much earlier, I guess because we had warmer weather earlier on. Here, we noticed it this morning. Don’t dispair, it won’t last a month, usually 10 days. Keep your windows closed for these few days and clean your windowsills only after the ‘yellow clouds’ disperse. It is the price to pay to have beautiful white pine trees around.
Michelle, I had a feeling you would know how long it lasts. Interesting that you record the dates too. I will know to watch for it and close the windows right away. I can’t believe how much of this comes into the house. It’s a shame because we finally have such nice weather and we want to leave the windows open. But thanks for all the info. It gives me hope that it won’t last too long.
Hi Shari, I live in East Texas we’re finished with our pine dusting, the big rains washed it away. Where are you living now? I trust all is well I’ve been following you for years
HI Joe, Thanks for following and for writing! I used to live on the island of Montreal but now I live just a little bit west. Thanks for the tip about the rains. I will check the forecast!
I feel your pain! pine pollen is thick and sticky. we live a bit south of you, so hopefully your suffering will end soon. I mark June 10 on my calendar, as the date for the second cleaning of my screen porch in Iowa.
HI Felicia, Yes, we are realizing that a second or third cleaning is what we need to do. We thought it was over yesterday but it was a bit windy today and everything is green once again. Hope your season is short too.
It has been pollen season here in VA recently, too, but take heart. It does end. One day you’ll realize that the glass table you wiped it off of the day before doesn’t need it and it will be over. Then mosquito season will start! Tomorrow is the Historic Marine Half Marathon and I always think of you. Maybe one day you all will get back for it. Glad you’re starting to get comfortable in your new surroundings. Cheers! Paula
Hi Paula,
I remember that half marathon! And I loved the photo that you reshared on FB. It was so nice to see all those friendly faces again.
Here in my neighbourhood we have both pollen and mosquitos at the same time. A reason to stay indoors, I suppose, but it’s too nice out there so I just put on the bug repellent and clean up the green dust.
Hope you are well!
Shari
Here’s a pollen calendar for Canada link. https://www.kleenex.com/en-ca/tips-advice/allergies/pollen-calendar
Thanks Kate. This is so useful!!
Here in Austin, Québec, it lasts about a month, every year, some years being more productive. It started yesterday. Pine, cedar, and I guess spuce, fir and the likes, one after the other… winds makes it worst! Unless it rains at the same time (that is the best combination) so the dust falls down immediately and does not fly far. But if you do not remove it, in July you will find that green and yellow dust in the cracks of your furniture and cushions… Enjoy “la campagne”.
Hi Jasmine,
We are supposed to have some rain tonight. I hope that gives everything a good rinse. And I hope it doesn’t last too long for you either!
Shari
It usually lasts about a week here in our NY yard. Sometimes you can see the fine cloud of green drifting. Don’t open screens or paint the porch til it’s over! Lovely painting— sorry for the frustration!
Hi Jean, We did learn to close the windows pretty quickly, and next year I will be watching for it! There’s rain in the forecast for tonight. Let’s hope that rinses away the green dust!
Love this! Just beautiful!!
Thanks so much Wendy!
I love it! Your comments as much as the painting! I have terrible tree pollen allergies and almost sneezed looking at your sketch. I never thought to paint the pollen into a sketch, but I have almost sneezed on several this month.
Michael, you are funny. I have a friend who has terrible spring allergies, so I feel your pain. I know it’s not fun.
Oh boy, do I know pollen!😭
It’s more of a Naples yellow here!
Hopefully it will go away soon for you, as it has died down a little in this area.
Enjoy spring, and all that goes with it😂
Thanks Lori!