I noticed this tree because its cones looked like bird eggs to me. This is a bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), called ‘bald’ because it is a deciduous conifer. In North America, some of the oldest livings things are these trees: the oldest specimen is in North Carolina, aged more than 1,620 years. They can grow up to 100 feet tall, and the tallest specimen is located near Williamsburg, Virginia. They grow fluted bases to help stabilize in wet soils; in fact, their root system is sturdy enough that even hurricanes rarely overturn them. Bald cypress swamps are some of the most productive ecosystems, and they historically dominated the swamps of the southeastern United States. This is a popular ornamental/landscape tree species, and the wood is also valued for its strong water resistance. The bald cypress is the official state tree of Louisiana.