Pollen mist

This time of year is the worst for those who are allergic to pollen. 


For those living outside urban centers, it's a nightmare. I wouldn't know personally, but I can imagine as I vacuum then mop away the yellow powder that settles on the balcony every day for several weeks in April. 

The worst is that April is the best month to sit outside for a few moments to relax as the sun warms your bones. It's neither scorching nor too chilly to stay, basking in the sun's rays. So every time you decide to take a breather, you need to dust off seat or sofa cushions and vacuum so that the yellow stuff doesn't all go into the house as you leave the balcony door ajar.

In Greece the months when this phenomenon is present are approximately March to June. Depending on the area, the severity of the situation is either immense or inconsequential. According to a 2004 study carried out in Thessaloniki, what makes people highly sensitive to pollen comes chiefly from olive trees, chenopodium vulgaris, cypress and pine trees.

This photo was taken outside a major city, just 20 kilometers in fact, in an area teeming with pine trees. By simply tapping the tree, this is the shot you get from just a few pollen-bearing cones. 


If this is just from a tap, imagine what happens on a windy day.