"Attack of the Junipers"

Most of the greenery here is in the form of large juniper bushes/trees. They provide shelter for the wildlife and a buffer against the strong winds. A few days ago, I took a photo of one of the usually green junipers near the house. I was amazed to see that the green had turned brown. This is not what we are accustomed to seeing in the East. The dull, brown/grey trees of Winter become green in the Spring, often blooming with flowers. To my surprise, I learned that the junipers here are now full of brown pollen. During the high winds of the last few days, the normally crystalline blue sky is now a brown haze. The pollen is so thick that our usual spectacular view of the mountains from the road has disappeared. Allergy sufferers beware!!!