Water coming from tree has unknown origin

? 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.