Research

9.15.2011 Thursday First Frost
Frosted windshield in front of our office.

9.12.2011

Ragweed, sage, and pigweed are still around at lower numbers. See graph index page, a bimodal peak for ragweed. Allergenic particles with pollen and broken up are present in the air, despite upcoming frosts.

9.6.2011 Counts especially ragweed remain significantly elevated to bother those susceptible. Read my blog from today to see a summary and relevant allergy information.

8.29. 2011 Yes the ragweed counts are very high especially last Thusday Friday during windy mornings. They are in the hundreds. See our blogs and graphs.

The next couple of weeks are traditionally the highest ragweed counts in our area. On average 8.25 is the peak of the season. See blogs and graphs.

8.9.11 The ragweed season started on 8.4 when the count was 10 /m3. I blogged on fall allergy for more details. This picture of the weed courtesy of Rod and NDSU.

8.1.2011
Three days in a row now with ragweed and traditionally the first week of August is when it starts. When it reaches 10/m3 I will let you know, it was 2, 2, 5 the last 3 days.

Also a lot of smut molds after rainy days.

7.26.2011 I saw ragweed pollen for this season for the first time. There was only one, but typically the season starts first week of August.

7.18.2011 Typha or cattail is considered a weed-any plant where you do not want it to be in. It is not allergenic but is the predominant weed right now.

Alternaria mold are significantly high to very high at these times. This is a very allergenic mold, especially for patients with asthma.

Canola fields and their pollen are allergenic. More to come from our Prairie Allergy Research on these blogs, stay tuned.

7.11.11. Barely any tree pollens out there, mostly pine which is not allergenic.

Grass still dominate although decreasing still significant.

Cat tail pollens are many but rarely allergenic.

In addition to grass pollens, these mushrooms are sources for mold spores 6.24.2011 called basidiospores.

As the grasses decrease in amount, molds such as Alternaria are the more predominant allergens in the air typical of warmer humid weather.

It's been an unusual June with above average rains is good fodder for Fusarium and vomitoxin mold related conditions.

Another situation I have never seen is the early presence of ragweed, pigweed, and a lot of sage. I believe the small numbers mean wind blown from elsewhere is an explanation.

Grass pollens are at the tip of the grass blades, and evident in lawns and fields of unmowed yards. 6.15.2011. Grass pollens are now more dominant.

People with grass allergy will notice more symptoms outside in windy dry days. Rains will help depending on how much we get.

Mulberry, oak are still plenty unusual for June. Pine pollens are typical and all add to high category.

Mickey mouse like pine pollens are also more prevalent now in June. See blog for details.

This update 6.21.2011 is buried down a little but it is an unusual pollen season indeed and will elaborate further the next weeks if this continues. I have never seen sage in this many amount in so many days in June. Rare pigweed and two days there are also ragweed. These weeds do not show up until August. Stay tuned.

Entymophilus or insect pollinators carry pollens from common garden flowers and shrubs to another, but they are not allergenic. I saw our first butterflies in our garden the 2nd week of June.

Compared to last year, there are less pollens day to day but these are all dependent on the weather, and pollination for various trees are delayed.

Late bloomer for this Japanese tree lilac. June 24, 2011 Memorial day wind damages trees 5.31.2011 Crab apple blossoms starting to bud out late this year. This tree species has low allergenic qualities. 5.17.2011

Birch tree not yet leafed out. 5.7.2011 Our crochus in snow, 4.17.2011