For years – decades in fact – I have detested the early part of spring.
Now the late part of spring, that is a different matter, once the grass has sprung, the flowers bloomed, and the birds are singing in the trees. Even before that is fine.
But just now, as the snow melts to reveal the ground once again, I don’t feel happy.
This has always been a mystery to me. I love the sun. It’s great to get outside. True, it is the end of the ski season, but soon it will be cycling season. I can’t loose!
Except I feel out of sorts around now.
Yesterday though, I suddenly realized what it is: mold!
You can see the mold growing on the grass, where ever the the snow has just melted. Yesterday’s crop of mold has already reached the end of its life, and looks almost like scum, floating on the surface of the lawn. But today’s mold is live and well, which means that I am not quite at my best.
If you live somewhere with a hard winter, you can see the mold growing like a carpet – long thin white tendrils creeping across the grass like a second layer of lawn.
I can remember this weird lackadaisical feeling from childhood. That feeling that I should want to go outside because it is sunny, but not wanting to.
Now that I understand my mold allergy, it makes sense. The mold releases spores and mycotoxins into the air outside. I open the window, inhale the stuff, and feel lousy. And if I go outside, I feel worse!
Spring is a bad time for mold. All sorts of leaves from last year and debris from the winter are laying around, half broken-down and water-logged. The sun comes out, and the first bit of life to spring forth is the mold, not the flowers or the grass! Not that flowers and grass are good news for some people with flower or grass allergies, but for me its the mold I complain about.
One solution is to keep the windows closed and run the air purifier (e.g. HEPA filter). This is not very appealing!
Another is to be aware that the symptoms that I feel (relatively mild) are caused by a mold allergy, and get on with life.
I’m thinking the best solution is to head south for the early spring.
This mold though, seems to prefer living out in the open and in full sunlight.
Mold Allergy Links
Mold Allergies – What is Your Experience?
What do you think? Do you feel less than good in the early spring? Have you noticed the mold growing on your lawn? Any other thoughts?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Eureka moment. It IS the mold!
I’ve been suspicious of mold for the last couple of years. After a good rain, I feel miserable. In the early spring, I have lots and lots of “colds.” It’s always the same symptoms: Nose and eyes. Your post confirms it for me. Well, I’ll have to talk to a doc but I’m pretty sure it’s mold allergies. I’ll be watching mold counts now when I’m watching the morning news. I wonder if I will see a correlation. I bet I will.
Glad you found the mold allergy problem
Hi Carrie,
Glad my post was helpful to you.
The good news is you are now almost certain what the cause of the problem is.
The bad news is that you have to figure out how to control it. No one has yet been successful in controlling the weather!
A few hits: when it rains or is otherwise “moldy” outside, keep the windows closed. If you have central air, shut off the damper that brings in outside air. If it is a bit damp and neither warm not cold, turning on a heater will help dry the air and reduce the impact of mold.
If you have a basement, do everything you can to keep it dry.
Just a few points to get you started.
Good luck!