If you're living in the Pennsylvania suburbs for the first time, there are some environmental factors that are good to know in advance.

The area around Blue Bell, located in Montgomery County, offers beautiful green spaces thanks to the unique natural environment of the eastern region, but it also comes with some inconveniences. The first thing to mention is the deer tick, which can transmit Lyme disease.

Montgomery County is considered one of the areas in Pennsylvania with a high incidence of Lyme disease. It's essential to develop a habit of checking your body after walking in parks or forest trails, and wearing long sleeves and pants, as well as using insect repellent containing DEET, is recommended. Be especially cautious in the spring and fall when tick activity is high.

No discussion about insects would be complete without mentioning cicadas. The eastern Pennsylvania region, including Blue Bell, is known for the emergence of periodical cicadas every 17 years. The most recent large-scale emergence was in 2021, when Brood X appeared in the billions, covering the entire eastern region. There are also occasional smaller broods that emerge. While cicadas are not harmful to humans and do not bite, the overwhelming noise and sheer number during their emergence can be quite shocking if experienced for the first time. Planting trees during this time can damage young branches due to cicada egg-laying, so caution is advised.

Pollen allergies are also a common issue in suburban eastern living. The Blue Bell area has high levels of tree pollen (especially from oak, birch, and maple) in the spring and grass pollen in the summer. In August and September, ragweed season can lead to increased allergy symptoms for many people.

According to the American Allergy Foundation (AAFA), eastern Pennsylvania tends to show high allergy indices in both spring and fall. In the first 1-2 years after moving, your body may adapt to the new environment, which can lead to the emergence of allergy symptoms that you didn't have before, so keep that in mind.

Additionally, in the summer, there are bugs like mosquitoes, yellow jackets, and brown marmorated stink bugs. Stink bugs, in particular, tend to seek shelter indoors in the fall, making it important to manage screens. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so it's effective to ensure that there is no standing water in your yard.

While these factors may seem inconvenient at first, you'll naturally learn how to deal with them over the years. Being informed and prepared can make the adjustment much easier.