Both ragweed and goldenrod bloom this time of year. This year has produced abundant flowers due in part to sufficient rainfall through most of our spring and summer.

Question: My allergies, which normally give me a fit in spring and again to a lesser degree in the fall, seem to have started earlier this year and are driving me crazy. What is with this allergy season?

I’m not imagining miserable itching watery eyes, runny nose and scratchy throat. But for late August, this is weird.

Is it that Goldenrod plant that seems to grow everywhere? I’ve heard that’s the culprit in which case my weed-eater is going to be wearing out every one of these plants that grow wild on my property.

Is there anything else I can do to get rid of the “guilty” plants?

Answer: OK, for those who moved to Alabama during the last year or for those who have issues remembering, the word is ragweed. Botanically known as Ambrosia spp, which sounds like a misnomer if ever there was one, this member of the Aster family becomes a topic of intense negativity about this time of year. Actually in most cases it’s a totally different plant, goldenrod (Solidago spp.) that gets the bad rap and unfortunate eradication by misinformed homeowners and gardeners.

Why the disconnect and misdirected frustration? Both ragweed and goldenrod bloom this time of year, from mid-August until late fall.” In addition to timing, they often grow in the same general conditions; full sun and average to slightly dry soil conditions.

The major difference between the two is that those pretty, yellow goldenrod flowers are insect pollinated while ragweed is wind pollinated. That means to all allergy sufferers that while goldenrod pollen is heavy and sticky, just right for honeybee pollination, ragweed is wind pollinated.

Considering that a single ragweed plant can produce 1 billion (yes, that many) grains of pollen per season, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, “The answer IS blowin’ in the wind.” Medical data indicates ragweed causes about 50 percent of all allergies blamed on pollen in North America.

This year has produced abundant flowers due in part to sufficient rainfall through most of our spring and summer. Healthy plants produce more flowers, a boon in most gardens. But with ragweed, more flowers equal more pollen and so on, the “benefits” of which we’re currently reaping.

Other than waging war on stands of ragweed (see photos), we can take action to ameliorate ragweed’s impact on our health. Pollen counts are usually highest in the morning until about 10 a.m., so limiting outside activities during those hours can help. Conditions for enjoying the outdoors will be best right after a heavy rainfall. If you must be outdoors during heavy pollen outbursts, a face mask will help reduce exposure to pollen.

Goldenrod is a more noticeable plant, so we tend to blame what is readily visible. Goldenrod’s yellow flowers hold a nectar source that is attractive to bees including the “honey” kind and butterflies, often considered the last strong nectar source of the season for them. Goldenrod has a fascinating history involving Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and George Washington Carver, but that’s an article for another time.

— For information on topics related to the home and garden, contact any office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The Limestone County Office is located at 1109 West Market St. in Athens. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 256-232-5510 or visit www.aces.edu.