Lightning strikes unlucky tree twice

If trees could talk, the tulip poplar at 2534 Meadow Lane would have yelled "ouch" twice in two years.

Planted almost five decades ago, the tree still was healing from a lightning strike last spring when it was struck again in Wednesday's storms.

Homeowner Wesley Robertson stood in his front yard Thursday, shaking his head at the damage.

"What are the chances?" he said.

The once-handsome, 40-foot-high tree bears marks to prove both strikes. Much of the bark is split, covered by black pruner's paint. Fresh splits at the top of the tree, along with scattered debris around it, testify to the most recent strike.

Despite the tree's two brushes with death, it's continuing to uphold its duty of shading the Robertson's home. Debbie Robertson said she wondered if leaves would appear this year after last spring's strike -- she wasn't sure about the date -- but buds appeared on schedule as the weather warmed.

She said her husband probably will drag out the pruner's paint a second time. Otherwise, all the couple can do is wonder why their tree gets hit and hope it doesn't happen again.

"It's God's will," she explained.

The tulip poplar isn't out of the woods yet. David Blanchard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., said just because a tree has been struck before doesn't necessarily lessen its chances of it being hit again.

"The Sears Tower is hit by lightning multiple times a year," Blanchard said. "But for a tree in a front yard to be hit more than once is pretty rare."

bchapman@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127