Flowers bloom and pollen booms across Carolinas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — February is just wrapping up – but spring is jumping the gun once again in the Carolinas.

“We’ve seen red maples blooming almost the entire month of February, which tracks for the last couple of years,” says City of Charlotte arborist Laurie Reid, “And some of the cherries have started to come out, which is really exciting.”

Reid is pumped for her buds, to say the least – but it’s not all smooth sailing ahead.

“When those flowers open, those petals are really susceptible to getting that frost injury and could cause them to fall off,” Reid says.

She says mulching and watering your backyard trees can help protect them from any cold snaps ahead.

“Trees that have water in their cells are a little bit more resilient to those freezing temperatures,” explains Reid.

The blooms are pretty, but they come at a cost for some of us.

“Pollen counts are already in the high category right now,” says Dr. Sanjay Khiani with Family Allergy Asthma & Sinus Care.

And that may be the reason you’re sneezin’.

“We’re having flowers and trees that are blooming outside, and patients are already starting symptoms with itchy eyes, itchy nose, throat congestion, drainage,” Khiani explains.

It might be a while before the pollen stops fallin’.

“From Valentine’s to Mother’s Day, spring pollen with the trees and the flowers, they’re out there peaking,” says Khiani.

So keep your meds handy – and use them early and often.

“We want to go ahead and get ahead of the peak seasonal symptoms,” Khiani adds.

“So, take your antihistamines daily. Take your nasal spray. If you have watery eyes, do that.”