Photo by KentonNgo.

The Washington Post confirms today what I feared last night, as I watched the friendly bartender on the roofdeck at DC9 spend a sizable amount of time wiping tree sperm from the counters which wind around the space — it’s pollen season, alright. Pollen levels have hit “very high” levels this week in the Washington region, meaning everyone who’s allergic to the stuff is really suffering.

How bad is it?

Allergy sufferers are well aware that the spring festival of pollen has opened. The seasonal high of 2,302 grains per cubic meter was recorded Tuesday, and the peak pollen count usually comes just about now, between April 16 and 26, Kosisky said.

“Very high” means that “almost all allergy sufferers will experience symptoms; those extremely sensitive could have severe symptoms,” according to the National Allergy Bureau.

Unlike last year, when tree pollen levels skyrocketed in early April, “this year has been up and down, up and down, up and down,” Kosisky said. Rain helps clean the air, but it also encourages blooming. There’s also been a slight upward trend in tree pollen levels during the lab’s 13 years of observations.

The most annoying part — aside from the general malaise, and those allergic having to stay indoors with windows shut and showering after coming inside to avoid sneezing, of course — is that the uptick in pollen is just the beginning: after tree pollen season ends, grass season gets underway. Though it could be worse; at least you’re not living in this house in in Lewisburg, Tennessee:

Ah-choo.