San Francisco Signature Tree Planting to Honor Iconic Twin Marian Brown

San Francisco, CA – The City will plant its annual Arbor Day signature tree on Wednesday in honor of the late Marian Brown in a small grove next to where a memorial tree was planted two years ago for her twin sister, Vivian.

The impeccably dressed twins, known for their matching outfits and sunny demeanor, were born in Michigan. They adopted San Francisco as their hometown, where for more than four decades they delighted residents and visitors alike as part of the City’s cultural landscape.

Vivian Brown died in January 2013 at age 85. Marian Brown, born just eight minutes after her identical twin, died in November 2014. Now, they will be together once again, symbolically.

Both trees are California incense cedars, or Calocedrus decurrens, which can tower 100 feet or taller at maturity. The two trees come from the same farm in Sunol, Alameda County. Marian Brown’s tree will be planted 50 feet from her sister’s.

“With these living tributes, the spirit of the treasured Brown twins will be with us for many, many years to come,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “What a wonderful way to celebrate the lives of Vivian and Marian and the importance of Arbor Day by planting and nurturing these trees in their honor.”

In what ended up being one of her last public appearances, Marian Brown attended the March 2013 tree planting ceremony honoring her recently deceased sister. Now it is she who will be honored.

• What: Tree planted in honor of Marian Brown
• When: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 11
• Where: Sloat Boulevard and Cranleigh Drive (near Junipero Serra Blvd.)
• Photo opportunity: Crane lowering tree into the ground

Each year for Arbor Day, San Francisco Public Works plants a signature tree dedicated to community leaders and advocates. In addition to Vivian Brown, past honorees include Nelson Mandela, Sandra Cuadra, Wangari Maathai, Charlie Starbuck, Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Ruth Asawa, Dr. Ellen Wolf and Dana Woldow.

The signature tree planting event is just one of the City’s planned Arbor Day celebrations.

On Saturday, March 14, Mayor Lee and District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang will welcome more than 300 volunteers to Public Works’ annual Community Clean Team Arbor Day volunteer work day, where people will plant 50-plus trees, landscape medians, freshen the Ocean Beach promenade, paint out graffiti and participate in other projects to spruce up the Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods.

A highlight of the event will be the Eco-Fair, featuring free, family-fun activities that include bucket-truck rides, planter-box building, a chance to feed and pet goats, music, games and much more!

“I’m very excited to host our Community Clean Team Arbor Day event in District 4 this year,” said Supervisor Tang. “It’s a fun family event with citywide appeal that gives us an opportunity to join together to celebrate our urban forest and work with other dedicated volunteers to beautify our neighborhoods.”

• What: Community Clean Team Arbor Day volunteer work day and Eco-Fair
• When: Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: Kickoff and Eco-Fair on 37th Avenue, between Ortega and Pacheco streets
• Photo opportunities: Bucket-truck rides, goats, tree planting, sprucing up Ocean Beach promenade 

“Arbor Day is not just about celebrating the critical importance of trees, which make our City more livable and beautiful and provide the environmental benefits of cleaning the air, reducing storm-water runoff, slowing climate change and providing habitat for birds and butterflies,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, whose department oversees San Francisco’s 105,000-plus street trees. “It’s also about building community as we work together to be good stewards of our beautiful city.”

The City’s Department of the Environment and Recreation and Park Department are key Arbor Day celebration partners.

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.