Early spring might be excellent for trees and flowers, but it can be awful for allergy sufferers.

Spring has arrived two weeks earlier than usual in several states in the Midwest this year, according to the USA National Phenology Network at the University of Arizona.

In the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions, it occurred just over a week ahead of schedule. In the western U.S., depending on your location, spring can arrive anywhere from two weeks earlier to a week later in California, Arizona, and Nevada.

According to the Climate Prediction Center, much of the country's southern and eastern regions are expected to experience temperatures far above average, which means an increase in pollen levels due to blossoming trees.

That’s terrible news for people with seasonal allergies ‒ about 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children in the U.S.

According to a recent study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, eight cities in California saw significant increases in their allergy rankings due to a "grass and weed pollen explosion," which the foundation says was intensified by heavy rains that year that spurred plant growth.

New Orleans also jumped considerably, going from 34th place the previous year to second in 2025.

Modern Druids follow a nature-based spiritual path. They often celebrate the cycles of the seasons, honor the Earth, and seek wisdom through poetry, meditation, ritual, and study.

While they don’t claim direct lineage from ancient Druids (since ancient teachings weren’t written down), they revive the spirit and philosophy of Druidry in meaningful ways.

Core Beliefs & Practices

• Connection with Nature: Respect for all living things, ecosystems, and the land.

• Celebrating the Wheel of the Year: Observing eight seasonal festivals (like the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days such as Imbolc and Samhain).

• Personal Spiritual Growth: Emphasis on introspection, creativity, and inner wisdom.

• Ritual and Ceremony: Frequently performed outdoors, occasionally in circles or within sacred groves.

• Peace, Justice, and Balance: Many modern Druids are deeply concerned with social harmony and ecological sustainability.

Some well-known groups include:

• The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) – One of the most prominent modern Druid organizations.

• The Druid Network – Recognized as a religion in the UK.

• Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) – A modern Druid group based in the U.S. with a scholarly and inclusive approach.

While there’s no exact global census of Druids, estimates suggest that there are between 30,000 and 60,000 modern Druids worldwide, though the number could be higher depending on how broadly you define Druidry.

• United Kingdom:
  Druidry is officially recognized as a religion in the UK.

• Groups like the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and The Druid Network are based there.

• There are estimated to be thousands of active members.

• United States:
  Druidry is growing steadily, especially under organizations like Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF).

• The U.S. has one of the largest populations of practicing Druids outside the UK.

• Canada, Australia, Ireland, and parts of Europe:
  Smaller but vibrant Druid communities are active here, often tied to local pagan or nature-based spiritual movements.