In Texas in recent years, the summers have been blazing hot and very dry. We haven’t gotten the usual spring and fall rains. 2011, in particular, was an unprecedented year of drought and wildfires. The Texas Forest Service said earlier this week the recent drought might have killed some 10% of the state’s trees – or up to half a billion trees – according to preliminary numbers from a statewide survey.

Forest Service Sustainable Forestry chief Burl Carraway told Reuters earlier this week December 20, 2011:

In 2011, Texas experienced an exceptional drought, prolonged high winds, and record-setting temperatures. Together, those conditions took a severe toll on trees across the state.

via Texas has lost as many as 10% of its trees, due to drought | Earth | EarthSky.

All you have to do is drive around the state to see the damage…In my area, Ike had stripped the trees down to their bare bones before we even began the drought. The most depressing sight has been all of the pine trees dying over the past couple of years. These pines are all over 50 years old, they have dominated the yards they grew in, and, even in death they are dominating.