Really?
I never thought I'd live to see the day when I mightn't have to pull up hundreds of sprouting elms in my gardens.
And you're certain of the varieties you describe in your lot?
All I've ever seen are Chinese or Siberian varieties that drive me nuts with their seed production.

Yes, positive of the varieties. I have called the nc forestry dept on Thursday to get some information, they were intrigued and will be stopping by my property on Wednesday. They said what I described to them as being DED. I really hope it is something else, but the symptoms are spot on with DED.

Just an update, tests did come back positive for dutch elm disease.

So, jdo, what did you decide to do?

I cut down the 2 that came back positive and were in decline. Going to probably keep an eye on it. Have a bunch of winged and slippery elms so don't really want to cut down them all. The trees I have cut i have replaced with oaks and maples.

I only had two elm trees on my property in Durham. They both died two years ago. They were American elm. Definitely DED.