Bald Cypress

I planted 5 Bald Cypress about 20 years ago. They were all about 4-5' tall and pretty skinny, trunk wise. They are planted in a very wet area, some years it is flooded, not just all winter but all summer too.  Two of them were gnawed down by beavers, after that we wrapped the remaining three with chicken wire about two feet up, that seems to have saved them.  We have not bushwhacked our way in to see them in years, at least 5 years. We can see the tops  (25-30 feet tall) up above the scrub willow so we knew they were still there. Today we whacked our way back to see them, and boy howdy have they grown. The chicken wire has almost grown into one, I will cut it off soon, before the rains start, but the others seem to have a bit more growing room. I looked, but couldn't see any Cypress Knees, I don't know how old they have to be before they get Knees, or what conditions are necessary for them to form. Anyway, here are a few photos, one with Sadie, (for scale). One tree is still skinnyish, it has always been smaller. I bought the young trees from several different nurseries, so I guess the small one came from inferior stock. The trunks are really interesting, they're staring to look like swamp trees! I hope they don't attract any Swamp Monsters!