Could they have been Australian Pines? Over on this coast at Ft DeSoto Park they are intentionally killing these invasive exotic trees. In some places it looks pretty ugly because now there's nothing but dead trees Those trees had taken over everything else.

John

Bummer, I hate to hear that they're killing all the Australian Pines at Ft. Desoto. Do they belong here? No. Have they been here for a hundred years? Yes. Culturally, things will not be the same, but then again all the bungalows from Treasure Island to Indian Rocks have been replaced by concrete monsters so I guess it makes sense to remove all vestiges of the post-war era, and I'm not talking about Vietnam, that made the Pinellas County barrier islands "quaint". Okay, time to get off my soapbox and out of the way of progress (one word oxymoron).

I heard on the news a couple of months ago that scientists are trying to figure out why pine trees are dieing in Florida. They don't know what is killing them. I don't recall them saying which type of pine trees though.

What did they look like?

I've heard that cabbage palms are dying with no cure, no idea of whether it's a pest or disease. Red bays are also dying from unknown causes but don't know that you'd notice them.

There is a bark beetle killing pines and a fungus killing Torreyas (but the last stand of them is in the Panhandle).

I don't know if this is relevant to the topic but my big Eucalyptus tree that I've posted pictures,died last year,the younger one that has gotten tall also seems dying,but now it has started to grow new leaves.
As well as another on my son's property,next door,same thing.
Two other eucalyptus trees on our neighbors property,a few
hundred feet are also dead.
No signs of fungus or any thing that I can notice.
Really sad to see these beautiful trees all bare.
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Felix

Flex, I also have a Eucalyptus tree that died after the 2004 hurrican. The top of the tree was snapped off. It does have a few limbs on the bottom that is still growing. I just loved that tree.

FWIW, cypress trees start dying back (i.e. going dormant for Winter) this time of year - the 1s around the lake @ our park are looking pretty bad right now.

Actually, a number of deciduous trees are doing that now - it is Autumn, after all...

These trees are not pines. Leaves look sort of like magnolia. The one girl we were able to speak to said they were Redwood!!. Guess she didn't know what I was talking about. Didn't get the opportunity to talk to a ranger. I just might call them on a non busy time.

Red bay (not Redwood) looks somewhat like a magnolia and is dying statewide. They are important trees for the spicebush and palamedes butterflies.

Here is a link that might be useful: dying Red Bay trees

I just read an article in Florida Farm Bureau Florida Agriculture newspaper about just what you are all talking about. Avocado trees are dying also. Redbay ambrosia beetle. Title of story is Laurel wilt may crush state's avocado industry. It's not online yet. Trees listed besides Avocado are Redbay, sassafras, camphor, silkbay, swampbay, poinspice and pondberry.

Thanks that is exactly what they were. Noticed a couple of treees partially effected.

I just read an article in Florida Farm Bureau Florida Agriculture newspaper...Redbay ambrosia beetle...Trees listed besides Avocado are Redbay, sassafras, camphor, silkbay, swampbay, poinspice and pondberry.

Wow! I've never heard of anything attacking camphor or swampbay, this has the potential to really be a problem :-(

Below is a link to an April 2009 thread about camphor trees dying from Laurel Wilt.

Here is a link that might be useful: Camphor Tree Dying (Photo)

LTY - did that tree completely die?