Birds & Blooms - USA (2021-02)

18 birdsandblooms.com FEBRUARY I MARCH 2021

YARD SM ARTS

f you suffer

from allergies,

you may dread

spring garden chores.

Many landscapes are full

of allergens, including

pollen from trees, weeds

and grasses; mold and

microorganisms found

in decomposing leaves,

mulch and compost;

insect venom; and

irritating saps or oils.

But don’t hang up the

gardening gloves just

yet. Warren Filley, an

allergist who helped

develop guidelines to let

patients garden more

comfortably, gives us

his best tips.

BIG FLOWERS,

FEWER SNIFFLES

Here is the great news:

The plants we love for

their big, pretty blooms

are the same ones that

Warren recommends for

a low-allergen garden.

He says they’re better

because insects pollinate

them. Plants that rely on

the wind to spread their

pollen are more likely

to trigger allergies. So

plant your garden full

of the showiest flowers

you can find, like smooth

hydrangeas, blue false

indigo, coral bells or

rudbeckia, and watch

the bees and butterflies

enjoy them, too.

Flowering trees like

magnolia, serviceberry

and dogwood also rely on

insects to pollinate them.

Even better, those flowers

turn into fruits that may

attract birds and wildlife

to our yards.

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ACHOO!

The Centers for

Disease Control and

Prevention say about

7.2% of adults have

seasonal allergies.

Say Goodbye

to Sniff les

Simple tips to keep you gardening through the spring

allergy season. BY HELEN NEWLING LAWSON