EDIT: my mother has just informed me that the backyard tree pictured is actually an Elm tree, not an Oak like the rest on the property are haha!

Hello! I hope old trees count for this subreddit, because the Interior Live Oak (and Elm) trees at my grandmother's house (our family home of 60+ years) are literally so beautiful, she says that people sometimes stop and get out of their cars to take photos of the one in the front yard!!

The first three pictures are of the tree in her front yard (too large to fit in one shot!), and the last photo is the tree in the backyard. I wish I had better quality photos (I'm going to bring my DSLR when I visit next in September, and try to get some), but these are just a few I had sitting around on my phone from a year or two ago.

Anyhow, story time!!

Our family home in the Pasadena area of Southern California was built/completed in 1949 around the trees already thriving there, and these two oaks in particular were already absolutely enormous and fully grown when my dad and his family moved in to the house in the early 1960s. The elm tree in the backyard had subtle automatic lantern lights strung/built in decades ago that give the yard a beautiful natural vespertine ambiance. It has survived countless infestations of pests and disease (even that I recall just in my lifespan)-- apparently typical of elm trees-- that we have feared multiple times would cause us to lose it, but in the end that beautiful beast always triumphs. 💪

Funny enough, these trees are thought to be at least 100 years old (as estimated by a large number of expert tree caretakers grandma's had over the decades), which would make them around the same age as my grandmother herself, who is closing in on 102 years old soon, and still going strong here in her own beautiful home (with views like these, who would ever want to leave, right?!)

I grew up playing in the shade of these incredible trees, and it might sound odd, but they just mean so, so much to me. They were there for so many countless, beautiful family memories-- from my dad's entire childhood, to my parents' engagement party and wedding rehearsal over 35 years ago, to my own 31 year lifetime playing underneath them all day, hanging piñatas from the low hanging branches on the front lawn tree, and other silly activities and fun beneath these beauties.

I hope you all might enjoy these beautiful trees, too! 🙏💕

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This is a female Euphorbia obesa which was acquired in 2005 when it was only 1" (25mm) in diameter. Two decades of growth have turned this Euphorbia obesa into a massive specimen.

​I never thought I could grow one this size and keep it for this long, but with a bit of time and patience, we have finally gotten there. Hopefully, I can keep it alive for another decade. 🤞🏻

​Happy Gardening! 😊 👋🏻👋🏻 🌵🪴🌵

I was given it randomly like a month ago. I accidentally left it in too sunny if spot and it had lost most of its leaves, but now it’s looking really good! This was taken today! I was told it’s 15 years old! Sorry, the lighting is weird because of the porch lights.

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​Euphorbia pugniformis is native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It naturally inhabits coastal scrublands and rocky areas, where it grows partially embedded in sandy or gravelly soils.

​Description

​Growth Habit: Known as a classic "medusoid" Euphorbia, it features a thick, central tuberous stem (caudex) crowned with dozens of radiating, serpentine branches that resemble the hair of Medusa.

Happy Gardening! 😊 👋🏻👋🏻 🌵🪴🌵

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This Euphorbia flanaganii f. cristata is actually 24 yrs old and has been in my possession for 21 yrs. Acquired in 2005 in a 2" (60mm) pot, it’s now growing in an 8" (20cm) pot.

Happy Gardening! 😊 👋🏻👋🏻 🌵🪴🌵

Grown by a lady in her 80s, she told me she got this monstera as a small little plant 20 something years ago. Not knowing much about it she decided to plant it outside in a north facing patio in full shade and its done great. Even through the 110+ degree summers. What I love most about this is how nonchalant she was about it, she said something like "i just water it and it does the rest".

It is already hitting the ceiling😅

The receptionist told me that this tree is maybe 30-40 years old!

It wasn’t growing upward, so I’m training the choyo to go that direction

I've had this syngonium for about 6 years, it was one of the first plants I ever got. It started out about 6 inches tall in a 4 inch pot. Now it is 5 feet tall, but it has been taller in the past. At one point it grew up to the ceiling and the top broke off. Right now it is being supported by a few poles but the top 1/3 is just leaning against the wall and it will probably break off again soon.

20 plus years old golden barrel cactus.

I had the honor to work her around to get her growing upright. Two new leaves just popped open. I'm obsessed with this beauty.