Spring is a time of blooming flowers, rainy days and, unfortunately, allergies. Pollen is caked on cars, benches and concrete.
The season began on March 20 of this year, and everyone can see how it has affected the campus.
While springtime can inconvenience anyone with severe pollen allergies, the blooming flowers on campus are a major mood lifter. All across the GCSU campus, flowers of different varieties and colors can be found that can brighten everyone’s day.
“My allergies tend to act up for a few days before settling down for the rest of pollen season,” said Elizabeth Brosman, a junior theatre major. “My favorite part about spring on campus is seeing all of the flowers start to bloom. It’s so cool walking around front campus and seeing flowers everywhere.”
The pollen breakdown for Milledgeville is surprisingly high this year. The tree pollen count is only expected to get higher as April goes on.
Atlanta has recorded its highest pollen count in 35 years, and all of Georgia is suffering from the air quality.
On March 29, the total pollen count in Atlanta was 14,801 parts per million. For comparison, on the same date one year ago, the pollen count was a mere 1,646 ppm. The previous record was set in 2012, when the pollen count was 9,369 ppm.
Pollen allergies affect approximately 26% of adults and 19% of children in the United States. This translates to around 81 million people.
Pollen allergies can lead to respiratory problems such as a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
Other symptoms include nasal congestion, sinus pain or pressure, and post-nasal drip. People could also experience fatigue, headache, sore throat, swelling and throat irritation.
On the bright side, the sunshine outside has finally made it warm enough for groups of students to congregate on Front Campus and enjoy the weather. Letting sunshine on the body is a great way to get vitamin D, which supports immune health and keeps muscles and brain cells working.
“I do have allergies that act up around pollen, but I am okay if I take medication,” said Shira Funk, a sophomore environmental science major. “I do enjoy the springtime. It’s hot, which I don’t like too much, but the nature is beautiful, and the spring means the pool and fun times.”
As much as students suffer from the seasonal allergies spring brings, they also find joy in seeing the new blooming greenery.
“The campus looks really beautiful with all the flowers in bloom, and sitting on front campus during a nice day is amazing,” says Camille Tobey, a sophomore mass communication major. “I love seeing all the flowers blooming and the weather.”
Along with the seasonal shift, restaurants and stores have altered their menu to complement the theme of spring. Blackbird’s new springtime menu includes the Cinnamon Crunch Latte, the Blackberry Crumble Latte, the Strawberry Milk Matcha and the Almond Berry Brew.
Blackbird isn’t the only popular cafe that has announced a new menu. Starbucks has introduced a new spring menu and Dunkin’ Donuts has announced a two-part drop, which launched on April 2.
The launch brought back the Dunkalatte and the Pistachio Latte along with savory snacks.
While springtime comes with an influx of heat and record-breaking pollen counts, it can also be a time to appreciate the flowers that bloom, being able to increase vitamin D and try new spring menus at popular establishments. Just like every season, it is necessary to accept the bad and look for the good.