Low-Maintenance SEX — the Leafy Kind
Yet again, it’s another case of sex discrimination in the news, but this time it involves bark, leaves, and busy city-planners. This battle of the sexes is the result of a large number of city-planners who view male trees as the ideal, low-maintenance choice…no messy fruits, or litter to clean up. By the way, your tax dollars are paying for these unhealthy decisions by city-planners.
Sounds perfect right? Wrong conclusion. For starters, there’s a huge nationwide increase in allergies and asthma. According to data from MedicineNet.com, the asthma rate has increased from 34 cases out of 1,000 people to 52 cases out of 1,000 people in just twelve years.
And, secondly, while male trees are busy releasing pollen into the air, females clean up the pollen by serving as air filters.
Of course, a lot of this pollen is inhaled by humans resulting in an increase in allergies and asthma. It can also have an impact on pets, some of whom suffer from allergies.
That example is a very real one because my youngest kitty, a formerly feral kitten who was no bigger than a stick of butter when I found her, suffers from nasal allergies every spring. Vets will tell you that she has a lot of company.
Additionally, climate change might also be a contributing factor. Many scientists see a link between allergies and asthma as a result of increased carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. This gas is emitted by burning oil, coal and other fossil fuels. Research shows that increased CO2 in the atmosphere results in more plant growth, and more pollen.
An excellent source for your own personal gardening needs is Allergy Free Gardening by Tom Ogren. It’s a wonderful resource with advice the experts may not have shared.
To share one important review by Walter H. Lewis, Ph.D.
“What a grand contribution to fields of pollen allergy, horticulture, and the garden. Congratulations to you both: Tom for conceiving and writing Allergy-Free Gardening, and Ten Speed Press for picking it up for publication.”
–Walter H. Lewis, Ph.D.
Senior Botanist, Missouri Botanical Gardens
Author of Medical Botany
The link contains a number of book reviews by leading authorities in the fiend.
www.allergyfree-gardening.com/books.html