Spring has sprung here in the Lowcountry. A few weeks back, the days were filled with warmer temperatures and the budding of blossoms. The heat rose like a fire pit waiting for hot dogs and marshmallows. Residents wondered if summer had arrived earlier than usual.
Days later, cooler evenings and mornings returned. Blankets that had been stored away in the closet were brought out and returned to the edge of the bed.
Sweaters and jackets were worn again. Breezes turned to wind and Spring announced it was here to stay for a bit. Summer would have to wait its turn.
Watching the azaleas, camelias, and roses shiver in the cool wind was a sight to behold. Some people covered the new buds with sheets. Morning sun provided enough warmth to remove the sheets.
This week, the weather is back to normal for the coast of South Carolina. Most trees and flowers have burst forth with bright colors to enjoy. Tulips, jonquils, hyacinth, and more plants are creating a beautiful landscape in the neighborhood.
I love flowers and all their beauty. Our hummingbird feeder is placed near my office window so I can see the fast moving birds.
Yet, there is a problem with warm temperatures coming too quickly.
Pollen.
The dreaded yellow pollen cloud that accompanies new growth of flowers, trees, and plants.
Standing outside on the sidewalk, I looked to the end of the street. Saying out loud, “What in the world is that? Is that smoke?”
No, not smoke. The yearly yellow pollen cloud had arrived and was here to stay for weeks.
Porch furniture turned yellow. Sidewalks were covered with the pollen so thick that you could see footprints when a neighbor walked to the mailbox.
Sneezes could be heard from yard to yard. “Bless you.” was said over and over.
Now, a few weeks later, the pollen continues to cover the porch furniture, sidewalk, and yards. Thankfully, the amount of the yucky stuff is lessening. Thank You Lord.
When I think about the process that brings the pollen, I remember the journey of growing in faith. Just like the blossoms and buds who try to reach for the sunshine, we grow in faith as we reach for the Son. Our faith grows. The plants and trees grow.
God created the people. God created the plants. Our call is to love God and love each other. Taking care of nature shows God our love for Him, too.
Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson
Beautiful reminder, Melissa. I’ll take the cloud of pollen in exchange for the beauty that surrounds us this time of the year! xo
I agree. I love the beauty that comes with the pollen. 🙂 Have a blessed day!
We were blessed to be able to share your beautiful low country for a few days. Beautiful time of year!
We’re so glad you and Karen were able to visit. Have a blessed day! 🙂
I love your analogy! I’ll try to remember it as I’m sneezing my head off lol. Though we don’t have a cloud of pollen, that sounds frightening to this highly allergic woman, we do have a high count this week. I literally was sneezing as I read this. 🙂
Allergies bother me, too. I’ll be glad when the yellow pollen cloud leaves. 🙂 Have a blessed day!
Melissa, I need to remember this when allergies kick into high gear. Thank you.
Thank you Diana. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Have a blessed day! 🙂
That nasty yellow powder wreaks havoc with my sinuses as well, but thank you for the reminder that each of those minute particles is a piece of our God’s unfathomable plan and in some way is working for the good of us who love Him.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, that nasty yellow powder bothers my sinuses, too. I am thankful for the beauty in God’s creations that comes as the pollen leaves. 🙂 Have a blessed day!
Oh, gosh, hard for people with pollen allergies, I imagine! Yet, pollen is reminder of the abundance of growth we have when we reach for the Son!
Yes, yes! We grow when we reach for the Son. Amen. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Melissa, we have the same thing over here in northern Alabama except our pollen is green! Can’t wait for it to stop blowing so I can clear my patio furniture and the deck area.
June, ours is yellow and green. Yucky stuff. I’m thankful for the beauty of God’s creations. The flowers are beautiful. I’ll be glad when the pollen is gone. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Sometimes we need to endure the yucky pollen to get to the beauty of spring; just like in life. Thanks for sharing and I hope you are not sneezing too much
Thank you Yvonne. I have allergy medicine and that helps. I agree. We need to endure the yucky pollen to get to the beauty. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
I live on allergy meds during pollen season, but it’s worth it for the beauty that follows!
Me, too. I’m thankful for allergy medicines. I’m thankful for the beauty that the pollen brings. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
We’re deep in tree pollens right now, but I’m unsure what else we’ve got going on since I’m not native to this area. No perennial flowers like tulips or daffodils, which I miss greatly, but they don’t grow in the subtropics where we now live.
I love how we can find nature to enjoy in any area we are living. What kinds of plants do you have in the subtropics? Hope the tree pollens leave soon. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
The weather is beautiful here as well. Spring has sprung here and the hyacinths and daffodils have bloomed. It’s just beautiful.
We don’t have that pollen cloud here in Michigan and I’m so glad, but we still have those allergies. I love that you always look on the positive side and it encourages me as to do that as well.
Thank you for your kindness Vickie. I always enjoy reading your blog posts. Glad you have beautiful weather. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
I remember when I first moved to SC in 2010 and smelled the pollen and thought it was a fire burning nearby, and I was told, “Hm, no I don’t smell fire, but it is pollen season.” Now I understand!
Haha! Yes, pollen season can be quite the experience. Have a blessed weekend Jessica! 🙂
Melissa, it can be quite similar here in Virgina. It rained hard last night, and when I headed out to work this morning, it looked like someone had poured an entire can of bright yellow paint across my driveway!
I remember the Virginia pollen. My sisters who live in Virginia have been telling me about the pollen there. That must have been quite a sight to see pollen looking like bright yellow paint. That’s a lot of pollen! 🙂 Take care. Have a blessed weekend!
Melissa, I love spring, but the pollen is choking. I hosed off my porch only to have it yellow/green again by the end of the day. But I still love this time of year.
Alan and I just clean our front and back porch again this morning. Still have lots of pollen, but, not as much as a few weeks ago. Hopefully, pollen is on the way out. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
Mimi, I’m sorry for the pollen’s effects on your allergies. It’s the same in Texas, but ours is invisible and blows in the wind. Mostly cedar from the south. But the flowers are blooming and the trees are coming out in fresh colors. Such a welcome sight after winter, isn’t it? Enjoy your spring season! xoxo
I agree. The beautiful flowers and trees are welcome sights after winter. 🙂 I love how God creates such wonders for us to enjoy. Have a blessed weekend!
Melissa, we have a slighter version of the pollen cloud here in Colorado. We’ll have times when the windows are open that pollen slips through the screens and coats my black cooktop. We see it on windshields, our deck tables, and we breathe it in, finding ourselves sneezing. The upside is, with pollen, comes flowers. I love how you remind us that we cultivate a relationship with God, we grow in our faith and our love for Him and others. Beautiful!
Thank you for reading and commenting Jeanne. I love the flowers and beauty that comes after the pollen. Coastal South Carolina is filled with beautiful flowers now. God is amazing! Have a blessed week! 🙂
We always need all of the parts of the process to bring beauty. The stuff we love and the stuff we don’t like so much. Thanks for this pollen analogy. It all brings beauty.
Hello. Thank you for reading and commenting. As I am watching the raindrops wash pollen off of the sidewalk today, I am thankful for God’s creations, even the pollen. 🙂 Have a blessed week!