April Showers (and Pollen!) mean Spring Flowers in Charleston

March 21, 2010

Long before moving to Charleston, I had a history of sinus trouble. As a kid, I had pretty severe allergies: dust, mold and especially pollen. I took regular injections from age 6 to around 15, until I had built up a pretty sturdy immunity. For the next 20 years, my sinuses were perfectly fine.

And then I moved here.

For three years I fiddled with pills and sprays, honking and snorking in the middle of the night. One by one I gave up cherished activities like raking leaves and cutting grass (hey, sarcasm!) Each spring my lawn furniture, the car in the driveway and my new roof are coated in a fine yellow haze. And the rain barrel looks like a 30-gallon urine specimen.

But there's a bright side. All of that pollen and a mild climate has given Charleston world renown as a showcase for spring flowers. Private garden tours are popular in Downtown Charleston this time of year, both due to the flush of spring beauty and the fact that it isn't 800 degrees out quite yet. There are several good tours, but right now the Historic Charleston Foundation's Festival of Houses and Gardens is worth a look.

Otherwise, plantation tours are also popular in Charleston. They combine house and garden tours with Colonial, Antebellum and Slave history. Two of the big ones are Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation.

Also, don't forget that The Flowertown Festival in Summerville is right around the corner, the weekend of March 26.

So take advantage of these unique Charleston amenities and schedule a private garden or plantation tour soon. After all summer is coming (in about 45 minutes.) You only have so long to enjoy the sunshine before your doors slam shut and the AC kicks into overdrive.  As for me, they finally arrived at the perfect nasal cocktail (Allegra and Nasonex, thank you.) Oh, and the economy collapsed so I had to let my yard people go. So I am strapping on the surgical mask and heading out to the yard. Wish me luck!

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