Cedar Season

Dang! Well, here it is - cedar season. For those who don't live in Central Texas, cedar season is that time of year when the male mountain cedar trees (juniperus ashei) emit their pollen. It is famous for causing extreme allergic reactions - called "cedar fever". For some reason - not precisely known - it affects some people, and others are completely unaffected. The unaffected ones can't understand why the affected ones are whining so much about this invisible force.
Mountain cedars are the heaviest pollinators in the world - which helps explain the amazing success of this species. The trees are literally " smokin' ". Big smoky red clouds puff off the trees with every gust of wind. Under the microscope, the pollen particle resembles an old WWII naval mine. Kind of feels like one when it hits your nose.
I have known a few people who have moved out of Texas because of cedar fever. It is the one thing that even die hard Austin-o-philes will complain about. Some people make it a few years before developing the allergy - and some (like my beautiful wife) - totally lose the allergy, or never get it.
Some sufferers have dreams about burning all the cedars in Texas. But this would be a monumental task and an ecological disaster. The trees are here because of their great ability to propagate. They are kind of like the porn star of trees.