Residents share memories about beloved Tampa Bay trees toppled by storms

As the days since Helene and Milton's one-two punch have stretched into weeks, the region absorbed many losses: Family members, homes, a sense of stability.

But there are some losses the community feels collectively. One is our trees.

For a story about the massive number of tree lost, the Tampa Bay Times asked residents to send in stories about their favorite trees toppled in the storms. Submissions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Trees in memoriam of family members We lost two of the three sugar maples my Dad planted at their house in the 1980s. We are working on the house to sell, it's heartbreaking anyway and now this. One of the trees fell across the driveway, next to the house, just missing it by inches. I said my Dad was there in spirit and pushed it away from the house. — Stephanie Lyon Price, Tampa

Lost our magnificent old oak in the backyard. It provided us with shade which my children played under during their childhood, and was a home to many birds and wild creatures. We had an owl box hung on it which provided shelter for our squirrels during rainstorms. It hosted my mom's night blooming cereus cactus, which I planted at her early passing from cancer, and gifted us with a magical reminder each year of what a beautiful person she was. It is the same as losing a beloved friend.— Karolyn Barganier, St. Petersburg

Symbols of celebration When we bought our home in Plant City, the backyard was barren except for two oaks. With the help of friends donating plants, the backyard became a beautiful garden with the largest oak being the centerpiece. A prayer bench sat under its shading branches. We were honored when our dearest friends, Lori and Jay Kent of Plant City, asked if they could be married in front out our magnificent oak. Hurricane Milton felled this oak but the memories of fun and friends in the shade of the tree remain with us always. —Thomas Hofts, Plant City

In our side yard we had planted a pink tabebuia tree. During Milton it snapped in half. It had excellent growth over the few years we moved in and it always bloomed around my birthday, which is why I called it "my pink tree." — Michelle Kuhn, Tampa

A place for childhood memories During Hurricane Milton, we lost a beautiful oak tree in our front yard. It was special to us as it had a swing, and our children and nieces would spend countless hours swinging, playing, and taking pictures on it. —Lana Vidic, St. Petersburg

My story is less about a single tree — but 11 trees. I grew up in Dover — where I thought was the wilderness, due to the house sitting behind so many trees. Unfortunately due to Hurricane Milton, I stepped outside to what looked like another world! Light was pouring into the yard where it was normally blocked by big towering oaks. Now most of the cleanup is over, the yard feels like it's missing something. The landscape's change makes me very sad. My house used to look enchanted. I used to lay under the trees as a kid and knew even then it was special to live there. —Jenna Sierra, Dover

Not only has this been my research but it has been my personal experience. Milton affected one of our live oaks. It's a 46-inch diameter live oak, probably about 100 years old. You stand next to it and you couldn't get your arms all the way around it. I really loved that tree. It provided shade, had a swing my kid and her friends have used since we moved here 15 years ago. —Rebecca Zarger, University of South Florida associate professor who's researched attitudes toward trees

A home for critters and more Hurricane Milton caused one of our beautiful pine trees to lean over, pulling up about half of the root structure. It is about 40 feet tall. Home to squirrels, crows, woodpeckers, vultures, doves and other critters. We love the activity a tree provides and will miss this wonderful pine when the chainsaws show up. — Pam Smith, West Lealman

When I bought my house 20 years ago, I had four avocado trees. Over the years, carpenter ants and woodpeckers slowly destroyed all but one. My last avocado tree finally succumbed to Milton. It stayed up, hanging on until the day after when it slowly fell onto the neighbor's roof. The tree was probably 80 or more years old. My subdivision was an avocado orchard before being developed. There are still trees in the neighborhoods, but slowly, they are disappearing. I saved a seed and plan on planting it once it roots again, hoping to continue its strong history. — Brent Dunn, Largo

• • •

Tampa Bay Times hurricane coverage 2024 What to know about FEMA checks, other federal Florida aid after Milton

Could Tampa Bay flood insurance rise after a hurricane? A warning from Hurricane Ian

How to handle fires, tree limbs and other hazards after Hurricane Milton