faeriegarden,

Did you see them down in the city or up at Red Rock or Mt Charleston?

I was amazed at the difference elevation played on my visit.

What part of the country are you trying to get pines in? Bristlecone types live in some pretty dry environments.

As I remember, the rainfall there is only on the order of 5-7" a year, not enough for most trees in a hot lower elevation. If you looked, every tree ususally has a bubbler or dripper irrigation near it.

Vegas proper is pretty brutal.

Get up in the hills though and you start seeing natural vegetation. I was thrilled with the time I spent hiking at Red Rock and Mt Charleston. A good break from the heat of summer.

faeriegarden, if you are ever in Phoenix, lord forbid in summer - even worse heat than Vegas, but if you are ever there they have one heck of a botanical garden. Made me respect arid landscape plants more. Of course the place is so hot the employees drive around on golf carts handing out water so you don't drop dead on their trails. But still I am happy I went and perhaps I just don't tolerate temps above 110 as well as the next guy.

"Afghan Pine, Pinus eldarica is the most common and best suited pine for landscape planting in the low deserts of the west"

Now Pinus brutia subsp. eldarica. Agreed, that'll be what they were.

Resin

There are many Pinus canariensis in Vegas too. Also probably some P. roxburghii too.

Actualy Vegas proper averages less than 5" of rain per year. Combined with the high heat in summer and there really isn't any tree species cultivated there that can survive without irrigation. Of course, that is the assumption in a desert environment... you WILL irrigate.

Vegas has fresh water supply issues. Go down and look at Lake Meade/Hoover for proof. Do not plant trees there which will need to further drain the lake.

Toronado, that's pretty much every tree planted in Vegas.