The mystery of the jelly-like substance that has twice appeared outside Wanganui East resident Judy Coleman's back door is now only a partial mystery.
Most of the people who called the Chronicle in response to last week's front page story identified the substance as a gardening aid commonly called crystal rain.
Dry granules sprinkled into pot plant soils or around garden plants absorb water and swell up into sizeable blocks. The gelatinous globs help keep the soil moist.
While Mrs Coleman was pleased to have that part of the mystery cleared up, she was mystified as how the crystals got to her back door step. She has never used the product - which at least explains why she could not identify it.
Another suggestion offered yesterday was that the crystals had fallen out of a child's nappy and had absorbed moisture from the air which caused them to swell. But Mrs Coleman said she had not had grandchildren visiting.
