It's the season again — to be miserable

If you're one of the unfortunates who suffer tree, grass or weed allergies, get ready. The only break you can expect before the snow flies next winter is July.

Allergy season is officially here, according to Carol Maw, spokeswoman for Intermountain Allergy, which not only treats allergy sufferers, but is the only certified pollen-counting agency in the state.

The agency has a rod that collects pollen and enables them to see precisely what's out and in what quantities to trigger those itchy eyes, stuffed noses and fatigue. Last week, with a spate of warmer weather and plants starting to come back to life, they started the annual pollen-counting season.

The counts Tuesday for people who are allergic to elm was bad news, indeed. "Anything over 50 is considered extremely high," Maw says. Elm came in at 678.

Cottonwood and cedar hovered at the start of "moderate" activity levels, while mold was "low" and maple still "extremely low" but climbing the allergy-misery ladder.

While tree allergy season will continue with that July break until snow flies, grass will join it by the end of April, Maw says.

The pollen counts are available every day online at www.intermountainallergy.com/pollen.html.

Pollen, the source of that sneezing, twitching, achy misery, is actually the male fertilizing agent for plants, trees, grasses and weeds. Intermountain Allergy and Asthma says that allergic reactions are due to plants that are pollinated by wind. And because of how pollen is transported, it can blow miles and miles away from its source. Fruit trees and ornamental flowers, the agency notes, are pollinated by insects and don't typically bother allergy suffers.

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