I don't need to tell many of you that pollen season is upon us. Even though we have banded mulberries and olives, there is still enough pollen to keep doctors' offices full.

Many actually leave town during this period to avoid the headaches, runny noses and watery eyes. If my statistics are right, one out of four of us will want to do the same.

My heart goes out to those who suffer. I went for years never having the problem, but I do now.

No sooner will mulberries finish than the olives begin their spewing. I wish that Mother Nature would get her act together so they spewed at the same time. A few years ago, she did send rain in the middle of the mulberry season and that sent the pollen count to zero. Oh, what a relief it was. So maybe we should all pray for rain during the next two months.

Las Vegas was once considered a low-allergy town, but not now. In fact, Las Vegas might well be the last place for allergy sufferers to settle. And to make matters worse, many of us want to grow allergy-producing plants in our yards. We do it under the assumption we are making the desert more hospitable.

Be pollen conscious. If you are planting new trees and shrubs, call 257-5555 for a list of good plants and bad plants to cut down on the allergies.

Here is a list of things to bring relief, as recommended by the American Lung Association:

• Your nursery sells an olive stop spray that aborts its flowers. You need to follow directions to the "T," as olive flowers open up over about a three-week period.

Many gardeners claim sprays do not work. The chemical must reach every leaf crotch where the flowers are found. Excessive growth of olives prevents the spray from reaching many of the flowers. You really need to thin out olive trees before applying the spray.

If you don't like chemicals, douse the trees with water early each day when they do the most spewing. Moisture clots the pollen from becoming airborne and washes off other pollutants.

• Fertilize and mow Bermuda grass often to cut off pollen-producing flower heads. Also, keep Bermuda well watered, as it responds to drought by producing more seed heads. Or use hybrid Bermuda; it doesn't produce pollen, even though you see seed heads.

• Never allow weeds such as common Bermuda, pigweed, rabbit brush, common ragweed and tumbleweed to go to seed. You'll find these weeds in vacant lots and alleys all over town.

• Plant shrubs along the fences away from the house so wind blows away the pollen.

• Clip off shrub flowering stalks to get rid of any pollen that may be released. Colored plants do not cause allergies, as their heavy pollen requires insects to transfer.

• Replace heating and cooling filters often, as the buoyant pollen easily collects on them. This is especially true if children run in and out of the home.

• Clean up debris and eliminate dusty areas. They become potential places for molds to form.

• Stay indoors when mulberries and olives are blooming. If you go out, wear a dust mask.

• Work in your garden in the evening, but wash the pollen off plants. When going inside and before going to bed, wash your hair. Pollen can get on your pillow to create problems at night.

• If your allergies are bad, have someone else do the yard work while the pollen counts are high. I picked up on this quickly. If you can't hire someone, wear a particle mask.

Here are some other tips for outdoor exercising and traveling:

• Take an antihistamine or decongestant 30 minutes before going outside.

• Before going out to exercise, warm up indoors so you are not outside as long.

• Exercise in the evening, when pollen counts are lower.

• Wash your clothes after being outdoors to get rid of the allergens trapped on them.

• Reduce any water leaks in and out of the home to reduce mold formation.

• Close windows at night.

• Always wear gloves and avoid wiping your eyes while working outside.

• Breathe through your nose, it's a natural air filter.

• Take a vacation in high-elevation areas or on beaches, as they have lower pollen counts.

• Avoid camping in wooded areas where mold growth is high.

• Wash your sleeping bags in hot water before heading out to camp.

• Keep your car windows closed and use the air conditioner to filter the pollen.

• Avoid parking under pollen-producing trees, as it collects on the intake ducts.

• Smoking can inflame allergy symptoms.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Art for gardeners: From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through April 17 at Quiet Places Art Space at 22 Water St. in Henderson, see "Botanical Art Work in Bloom." There will be an open reception from 5 to 9 p.m. today. Refreshments will be served. The photographs and watercolors are done by five local artists -- Gary Reese, Fred Sigman, Julie Draper, Roulla Karampetsou and Donald Davidson -- who share a respect and appreciation for desert landscaping and native plants. For information, call 845-7420.

Designing your own landscape: At 2 p.m. Saturday, come and learn how to select plants for your landscape. Most of us become overwhelmed by the array of plants in nurseries. Join Jonathan Spears, one of Las Vegas' leading landscape architects and owner of Sage Design Studios, for tips on making the right plant selection to complement your landscape. Call 258-3205 for reservations.

Landscape lighting and garden art: Join seasoned professionals from Romanza Garden Living and Ted's Lighting, some of Las Vegas' leaders in designing landscapes, at 2 p.m. March 24. They'll personalize your landscape with special finishing touches, including lighting, garden art and distinctive containers.

Desert Demonstration Garden closes: As the new Springs Preserves botanical garden prepares to open, more than 400 of the trees and shrubs have been moved from the Gardens to the new site. For nearly 25 years the 2.5-acre Desert Demonstration Garden has introduced valley residents to many new and exciting drought-tolerant plants. The new botanical garden will expand to more than eight acres, making it possible to bring more water-conserving plants for your landscape. The new Springs Preserve is set to open in early June.

Linn Mills writes a gardening column each Thursday. You can reach him at linn.mills@lvspringspreserve.org or at the Gardens at the Springs Preserve at 822-8325.