Is it a miracle? A broken water pipe? Natural forces at work? What is causing water to dribble out of a red oak tree in Texas?
SAN ANTONIO – Is it an artesian spring, a broken water pipe or an abandoned well? Lucille Pope's red oak tree has gurgled water for about three months, and experts can't seem to get to the root of the problem.
Pope, 65, has sought answers from the Texas Forest Service, the Edwards Aquifer Authority and nurseries. They have taken pictures and conducted studies, but none have arrived at a firm answer.
"I got a mystery tree," Pope said in Friday editions of the San Antonio-Express News. "What kind of mystery do I have where water comes out of a tree?"
Her son, Lloyd, 47, discovered water leaking from the tree in April. He said it was cool, like it came from the tap. The only damp spot around the tree trunk is where the water lands.
Mark Peterson, a regional community forester from the Texas Forest Service said he believes it could be a spring, but pointed out that would be rare with the drought conditions this summer.
"If it is a burst pipe their monthly bill would be enormous," Peterson said.
Not necessarily. If the leak was before the meter, the water utility would not be billing the homeowner. I'm not a big believer in things like this being miracles, I tend to lean toward the natural phenomenon or leaky pipe theory. Or it could be a weird scientific experiment to develop self-watering plants! Or aliens! That's the ticket, it's a plot by aliens. The trees are being modified to turn the earth into a swamp more suitable for the aliens!
Oh, sorry. Just an attack. I think I need to cut back on the coffee in the morning.
