America’s heartland is characterized by extreme climactic changes. The clearly defined seasons of the Midwest limit pollinating plants to specific months — good news for the traveler with allergies. You can vacation with confidence any time from late fall through early spring, when the skies are relatively free from pollens. The following seasonal guidelines can help you plan your travel to avoid the allergens and irritants that trigger symptoms.

Spring

This is the season of rebirth after the harsh Midwestern winters — especially for mold. Early spring belongs to mold spores, thriving on thawing vegetation killed by the winter cold. Fields still moist from snowmelt are being plowed, but airborne agricultural dust won’t become a problem until late in the spring when the damp soil dries out. The first round of pollination begins with trees in late March, and crests in April and May when the hickories, elms, and oaks are releasing pollen. By May, the increasing warmth and humidity encourages dust mite growth.

Summer

Summers in the Midwest offer the allergic visitor a variety of airborne triggers. Those big skies are full of pollen, dust, and mold spores nearly all summer long. Between June and August, prairie grass pollens dominate throughout the Midwest. Ragweed takes over from mid-August through September. All over the Great Plains, Russian thistle, hemp, and amaranth are also pollinating in the late summer (August and into September). The Rocky Mountain states and the Dakotas are home to allergenic sage, also pollinating in August and September. As the soil dries out, dust becomes an increasing nuisance. Even though Midwestern summers are dry enough to create a dust problem, they aren’t dry enough to prevent molds from lingering in damp places. Air conditioner filters are a favorite mold hideout during the summer months.

Fall

The early and dramatic chill of autumn brings pollination to an abrupt halt throughout the Midwest. With the notable exception of the sturdy ragweed (still pollinating throughout September) there is little threat from airborne pollens. However, harvest season in Midwestern agricultural regions sends plenty of irritating dust into the air to plague the allergic traveler. Cooler temperatures and rotting vegetation left over from the harvest provide ideal conditions for a flurry of new mold and mildew activity. So do the piles of raked leaves and yard waste in urban areas. You can count on millions of wind-borne mold and mildew spores in the fall.

Winter

As is the case with much of the United States, winter may be the best season for people with allergies to travel in the Midwest. A blanket of snow ensures that very little pollen will be released. The crisp, dry air means dust mites are not as likely to reproduce. This gives residents a good time to catch up on cleaning dust mite waste, and mite-allergic friends and family a great time to visit. Mold, however, is not intimidated by frost or cold weather. It will continue to grow in damp places, even under the snow.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 29th, 2007 at 8:13 am and is filed under Seasonal & Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.