The Geaux Louisiana Game featured on www.jdncompany.com is the creation of Maree DeBuse with original artwork by Paul Schexnayder. The go fish style card game features 13 different images representing official symbols of the State of Louisiana. Over the coming months our line is going to share details on each of these symbols. Let’s start with the Official State Tree, the Bald Cypress Tree.
2023 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Bald Cypress tree (Taxodium distichum) being of Official Tree of Louisiana. It all started with school children at Jefferson Terrace Elementary School in Baton Rouge in 1963. The fourth-grade class with their teacher, Mrs. Juanita Sommers, petitioned the Louisiana legislators to add the bald cypress tree to Louisiana’s list of official emblems and symbols. On May 26, 1963, Legislative Act No. 49, made the bald cypress tree the official state tree for Louisiana. The bald cypress tree is a conifer also known as evergreens. This conifer is unique since it loses it needles during the fall. The tree appears Bald giving it the name the bald cypress tree.
The bald cypress can live over one thousand years; it is a very slow growing tree. Cypress trees have “knees” which are real roots. The knees grow above the surface of land or water. The knees transport air to the submerged roots.
Check out our lovely products with this historic and important tree to Louisiana.
Cypress Tree Collection