When we were walking in the park last week, we noticed the Baldcypress trees changing color.  They were gorgeous!!!  

 

Baldcypress trees are fascinating.   Taxodium distichum is a nonevergreen conifer.  It drops its flat needlike leaves in the fall after turning this gorgeous color.  My Peterson Field Guide says about Baldcypress that once you see a tall stand of them, you will not soon forget how they are related to the giant Redwoods.  Majestic, it says.  

 

It is one of the most valuable lumber trees because it is straight-grained, durable, and doesn't warp easily.  It is used for construction work, railroad ties, posts, shingles.

 

But THE most fascinating thing to me is this:  Baldcypress can grow to 120 feet, and live mostly in southern swamps.  In deep water, "knees" will form to get air to their roots.  We've seen lots of these in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.  And the water around the knees is the color of root beer.   This tree lives near a creek, but has no knees that we've seen.

 

I hope you get to see some Baldcypress trees in your travels.  They are fabulous.

 

 

HAPPY FALL!!!