One tree, two taps, one clear and one yellow - how does this happen?

[TimJ]

A friend asked me to help her tap a few trees in her yard. I did so and one of the trees is very prolific - I've never seen so much sap come out of one tap before for such an extended period.

The tree in question now has one bucket with yellow sap and the other still is clear - this is after at least a week of yellow from the one tap.

Is this unusual and how does a tree produce buddy sap in one hole and clear sap in another?

[PerryW]

My buckets do the same thing, one will be clear and one yellow, sometimes from the same tree. I don't know why, but it's usually during a warmer-rainy period like 10 days ago for me.

But don't confuse yellow sap with buddy sap. Yellow sap can happen any time during the season. The sap usually clears up after a freeze for me.