The picture shows a man in a bowler hat standing beside an enormous columnar cactus, with a large prickly pear and a spiky yucca-like plant nearby; the printed caption reads "Things Grow Large in California." The card is a color lithograph published by the Detroit Publishing Co., a major American postcard producer of the early 20th century, and it uses the tall-tale exaggeration of California's flora as a humorous tourist appeal.
Postcard Details
Message · English, in pen
from John - a Happy Easter
is no good as a birth-day
that you are not here but
will be an Easter
my heartiest
greetings
from - your loving
grandma & grandpa
Aunt Lena and family
White border; printed color; publisher logo at lower right; card no. 9562; light edge and corner wear.
Postmark: ALBUQUERQUE N.M. MAY 13 7:30A 4 PM TRANS. CLK. Divided-back Detroit Publishing Co. card ("POST CARD" heading, no government imprint); white border on front; light edge/corner wear and a small stain at lower left.
Cite this card
Giant cactus with man, "Things Grow Large in California," circa 1915, postcard, c. 1915. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/giant-cactus-with-man-things-grow-large-in-california-circa. Accessed October 25, 2026.
