Work when pollen counts are low. And watch out for wind, says Pritts, Ph.D. “Dry, windy weather prompts plants to shed lots of pollen, so that’s the worst time to be outside.”
Bring on the blooms. Surprise! The more colorful and ornate the flower, the less likely it is to make you sniffle: Bright flowers pollinate by attracting insects, which then spread the pollen. Their pollen is usually on the flower or an insect. Plain-looking flowers simply release pollen into the air (and your nose), explains Pritts. He says bright-colored flowers — such as mums, lilies, gerberas and alstroemerias — are friendlier to allergy sufferers. Just don’t bring your nose in very close for a whiff!