Scratch off the bark and see if it's green underneath. It probably is, so the tree isn't dead, it's just in shock. Give it a few weeks and see if it gets new foliage.

Thanks Anna and Fawnridge!
I'll try to be patient...
Anna - it came from the specialty nursery on Beneva (you know the one!) I will go down there next week and see what they have to say, but I'm not hopefull. I had them come out last week to see the huge vibernums they planted last year that are doing so poorly, and they offered no advice! Something has happened there since they changed owners.
The tree is in the middle of that sandy area out back, so wet feet isn't an issue - I think I planted it correctly but didn't fertilize it.
Very strange event and upsetting because it was such a pretty tree!
We'll see what happens
Hester

Hester, did you ever figure out what was wrong with your holly tree? My mother's tree, a very mature tree, has suddenly dropped all of its green leaves. (My parents built their home in 1980 and the tree was already there, so it is 33+ years old). We are just sick about it. Looking into it, I have found that there is a fungal disease called Sphaeropsis tumefaciens attacking hollies and some other species for which there is no known cure. Did your tree ever recover?

Carol in Jacksonville

http://www.tampabay.com/features/homeandgarden/holly-trees-are-losing-leaves-but-why/1203482

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/jos/Sphaeropsis.htm

http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=17401

HI Carol,

Sorry, I don't visit GW much anymore but I wanted to respond to your questions. I gave up on that tree early on and returned it to the nursery. It was extremely pot bound and even though I untangled the roots and watered it in well, the dang thing died. I don't know about the fungus you mentioned but it is strange that I don't see those trees for sale anymore..I would still like one sometime but now have the space I chose full of other things! Can't ever have an empty space can you? HOpe your tree survives.

What's the plant with the lavander colored blooms along the fence? At first I thought it was blue sky vine and then a Mexican petunia but it looks more like a cross between the two lol very pretty

i've had some drop all their leaves. i believe it's stress from being removed from its growing medium and having its roots manipulated. i planted two a few years ago that did the same thing and they put out new leaves in a couple of months and were fine. east palatkas grow really slowly so if they drop their leaves ... usually patience is all that's needed .. and lots of water until they recover. yaupon hollies grow much faster and seem to not stress like that. i know it's been years since the op but thought it might help someone else.

Yep. a thunbergia (blue sky vine) . Cut it down to 6 inches every spring and in a month it has covered the fence. If I take a day off, it goes up a nearby tree. But I still like it!

Yes, one of mine does exactly that, its all along a fence and up to the top of a nearby tree.. Amazing plant. I don't like the tree so I'm letting the vine take it over. I'm looking for the white version of it now