Bountiful Blossoms : Wildflower Season Delights Many, Daunts the Allergic

As perennial as the blossoms that color the hills of Orange County’s regional parks, the wildflower watchers are back.

Clutching binoculars and cameras, plant guides in hand, flower enthusiasts are streaming into county parks as the wildflower season reaches its peak and dozens of varieties are in bloom.

“There were a lot of folks on the trail” on a recent weekend, said Senior Park Ranger Mike Brajdic, who works in Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park near San Juan Capistrano. “And most of them are here for the flowers.”

With heavy rainfall hitting Southern California over the last two winters, these have been good times for hunting wildflowers. But allergists say they have been very bad times for hay fever sufferers.

Nourished by the rain, fast-growing wildflowers, grasses and weeds such as the mustard plant and Russian thistle have added to the misery of people who are allergic to airborne pollen.

“It’s been pretty intense lately,” said Dr. Geeta Venkat, a Mission Viejo allergist. “Anyone going camping or hiking just inhales all of that [pollen]. If you are an allergic person, you definitely have a problem.”

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The rainfall has created unusually heavy pollen counts, according to another Mission Viejo allergist, Dr. Lakshmi S. Duriseti.

When concentrations of wet weather are followed by hot spells, plant growth is stimulated, meaning more pollen and more people visiting their allergists’ office.

“We’ve recently seen more patients come in with aggravation of asthma and sinus conditions,” said Duriseti. “We have to step up medication to keep sinus inflammations under control and help patients get through the spring.”

On the bright side, people with a love for nature combined with a nasty allergic condition can take advantage of several new treatments for hay fever and other allergic reactions.

“There are lots of new medications that they can have their physicians prescribe,” said Venkat. “Anti-inflammatory nose sprays work very well to prevent sneezing and runny noses.”

Those with severe problems can look into receiving injections for short-term relief of symptoms and long-term treatment.

Allergan amino therapy creates antibodies in the immune system and can reduce or eliminate sneezing and wheezing for three to five years. People having severe reactions can get immediate treatment with anti-inflammatory cortisone injections.

“This is always the worst time for pollen,” said Venkat. “But because the weather is always nice in Southern California, there’s pollen around pretty much throughout the year.”

But from the standpoint of natural beauty, this is the time of year that accounts for much of the attendance at the county’s 20 regional parks.

“The late rains have really kept [wildflowers] going,” said parks supervisor Tim Miller. “It’s a real painter’s palette of color out there.”

Brajdic said that during a recent two-hour walk he counted more than a dozen wildflower species--just a small portion of the 50 to 75 varieties of flowers observed in the park last month.

“It’s been spectacular for a few species,” said Brajdic. “There’s been more blue-eyed grass around than I’ve seen for several years.”

Other wildflowers spotted in the park include Indian paintbrush, shooting stars and California bells, he said.

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Starting in March, the wildflower show continues strongly through April before waning somewhat in the hotter weather.

But good wildflower watching will still be available through the hotter months.

“It’s going to stretch through June, July,” said Brajdic. “For example, shooting stars come early and then they’re gone and some other species will take their place in the same spot.

“Some wildflowers thrive in wet environments, others specialize in drought conditions. To really see them all, you’d have to come about every two weeks over the next two months.”

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Bloom County

Heavy winter rainfall and warm weather have combined to produce another Orange County wildflower crop that has back- country trails ablaze. Many regional parks sponsor trail hikes that feature wildflowers. Check with your local park. Some spots for wildflower watching and what’s blooming now:

1. Crystal Cove State Park

Lupine, Parry’s phacelia, sticky leaf monkey flower, California poppy, Indian paintbrush.

2. Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park

Popcorn flower, Indian paintbrush, fiddleneck, lupine.

3. Peters Canyon Regional Park

Wild cactus, fuchsia- flowered gooseberry, wild blackberry, Indian paintbrush, purple nightshade.

4. Ronald W. Caspers Wildnerness Park

Blue- eyed grass, Indian paintbrush, shooting star, California bell.

Source: Greg Giacopuzzi, Crystal Cove State Park; and Tim Miller, Orange County regional park system; Researched by FRANK MESSINA / For The Times

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The Big Sneeze

Pollen from flowers and trees triggers many allergic reactions this time of year. A look at common respiratory allergies and how to control them:

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Common Causes

Airborne particles, smaller than a pinhead, can cause sneezing. Some examples:

* Grass pollen

* Tree pollen

* Mold spores

* House- dust mites

* Animal dander (flakes of dead skin)

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Prevention

To avoid allergies, minimize exposure to pollen:

* Close car windows

* Clean air conditioner or furnance filters often

* Buy specially made filters to capture fine airborne particles

* Sleep with windows closed

* Avoid yardwork or wear facemask

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Symptoms

* Headaches

* Dry, scatchy eyes

* Sneezing

* Runny nose

* Swelling of lymph nodes

* Sore throat

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Treatment

Over- the- counter products may help alleviate symptoms, but controlling severe allergic reactions may take a visit to an allergist. Some common allergy remedies:

* Antihistamines: Control sneezing, itching.

* Oral corticosteroids: Prevent asthma symptoms from developing.

* Immunotherapy: Injects allergens to block allergic reactions

Sources: World Book Encycloopedia, The American Medical Assn. Encyclopedia of Medicine, Times reports.