ElCuartoMago writes:

I have a wooded area in my back yard which is a "low lying" and wet
area. There's a brook/stream that runs across it.

For nearly 20 years, I've had a number of large tulip poplars which
have bloomed every year until this year.

Last year, around this time, there was a very large deluge which left
a HUGE amount of sand, rocks, etc etc in the yard..... it's been
unblocked and redistributed but is still several inches higher than in
years past. ground cover hasn't yet grown in over what was the deepest
pile of sand/rock......

As of this July (today) only, of the 5, one has leaves and only
scattered in smaller branches up the main trunk.

Will they recover? How long should I expect to wait before I panic?
thanks in advance.

My opinion is that the trees without leaves are dead.
You're down in SC.
Up here in NJ our Tulip Poplars have been leafed out for at least a
month.
I can't imagine any way those trees are coming back.

Panic won't help but I think dead trees become more hazardous to
remove as they become older. More chance of the tree breaking or
falling as it's being cut.

Our trees are huge, at last a yard in diameter.
I've had some removed over the years for various reasons.
About 3K each to remove. Last year we lost 3 large ones to Sandy.
They fell, so removal was cheaper.

Tulip Poplars are interesting.
They have one of the more spectacular flowers, but because
the blooms are so high up and green colored, you might not
even see the flowers.

When I first saw your post I looked around and found the
You Tube video about drinking the nectar out of the flower.
Next time I get my hands on a flower I'll have to try it.

--
Dan Espen