The BAAPCD has the authority to prohibit non-native plants that dispense harmful pollens, but they chose not to exercise that power. Talk to them.

August and September are the worst months for tree pollen allergies. Gets me every year.

Same here. I was sneezing badly on Sat and Sunday in particular. Went to a ballgame in Oakland and felt better - came back and did worse. Took Claritin which helped somewhat, but I hadn't needed it in a number of years. Seems better now.

I have a beautiful Chinese Elm tree in my backyard. It's huge. Fell in love with it when I bought my house. The first fall after moving into my house (1988), I got my first case of allergies. I told my doctor that I'm allergic to August. It took several years to really pin-point it to the tree but I am very allergic to that tree in August. My nose keeps running until it starts to rain in November. Every August I want to bring it down but then I realize there are so many Chinese Elms in Palo Alto.

Add me to the list.

Chinese elms are all over Palo Alto, and I planted one in my back yard 15 years ago! That was obviously before I knew I was allergic to them, actually very allergic to them. I get allergy shots (have for years), and yet August through November are still difficult months for me. This year seems to be particularly bad. Is it because of the abundant rain last winter? I don't know.

Perhaps we need work on chemically castrating plants, so they no longer produce pollen. This is one low hanging fruit not harvested.

Dang - sometimes even a blind pig finds an acorn. Unknown to me when I wrote the above, apparently there is thriving research in chemical castration of plants to control pollen production, some even by marijuana growers. Since allergies are one of the last human maladies tackled with source controls, and since allergies are a leading cause of reduced efficiency, the failure of the Air Pollution Control Districts to consider pollen control is unconscionable.

I live in Menlo Park and have a Chinese Elm in my front yard. My nose is completely blocked today and watering like a tap. I wonder if an indoor air filter will help.

We have Chinese Elm in our front yard too. Researched air filters and purchased the well-rated BlueAir indoor air filter from Bed Bath Beyond with the 20% off coupon: Web Link

It is quite large but is very quiet on low - can hardly hear it. Does it help? It's in our bedroom, so perhaps helps a bit at night, but pollen is everywhere outside. I dose-up on Claritin and when that stops working after a couple of weeks, use Flonase nose spray (prescription) which helps. I think the drugs probably help more than the air filter, but my allergies are only moderate.

"I'd like to hear about anyone else who suffered similar hayfever symptoms this weekend."

Go to a doc.

Using the internet?

Ahem.

"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is hard to verify their authenticity." — Abraham Lincoln

Just looking to see if there were other people at this time of this year ( mid-May 2014) that are suffering from allergies. I used to something get allergies, but this year is terrible. Anyone?

I am very allergic to elms (I have two in my yard!). I can confirm that starting in mid-August my allergies are awful and it continues for weeks thereafter.

Although I have allergies year round, they are worst in the fall and it's when the trees cause my allergies. We've had no choice but keep all windows and doors shut and install A/C in our house.

My son was tested for what specific tree pollens he was allergic to with skin prick tests, then had allergy shots for those specific allergens, including elm. Problem solved. It does help to know very specifically which trees you are allergic to because then you can figure out which types of trees produce pollen when, and treat it systematically with Zyrtec. And no, the city of Palo Alto could care a less the allergen levels of trees they plant. On the bright side, some trees like Magnolias, cause no tree allergy problems at all, according to our allergy doctor.

Our backyard neighbors have two huge trees and they drop all manner of items in our yard - year round. Thank goodness we are not allergic. It sounds really difficult.

If they are not protected trees, is there a reason the highly allergic and suffering residents with them in their own yards don't take them down and replace? Is it the size? cost? Am I a horrible person for suggesting this?

@ Parent: I was tested, which is why I know I am allergic to the elms for sure. I get shots. I have for years. They help, but in fall, my allergies are still very bad when exposed to outdoor air. Allergy meds like Zyrtec make me very sleepy.

@ New in Town: My two elms are very large and beautiful, and I don't want to get rid of them. I am also allergic to all kinds of other pollens, and other allergy agents. So, removing the trees might help a bit but would not be the end of my allergy problems, unfortunately. Not to mention that Chinese elms are ubiquitous in PA.

You might consider the night-blooming jasmine, too. It's very allergenic and planted all over the place. It's on a lot of road medians, and it's very likely you are spending a lot more time sitting next to them if you drive at all in PA.

An allergy filter in your house could help, too.

"Since allergies are one of the last human maladies tackled with source controls, and since allergies are a leading cause of reduced efficiency,.."

@Walter,
The majority of people are using products in their homes that significantly increase antigen load. It's effectively to their immune systems like there is far more allergen in the environment than there really is. It's not necessary to change the outside world, just the inside one. And it's actually not even necessary to have air filters, that turns out to be an expensive solution. But it's one people are usually more ready to do.