FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

March 5, 2013 

Contact: Rachel Gordon, DPW, 415-554-6045

SIGNATURE TREE TO HONOR THE LATE ICONIC TWIN VIVIAN A. BROWN 

City will dedicate majestic incense cedar tree on Wednesday to kick off Arbor Day

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – This year’s signature Arbor Day tree will be dedicated to the late Vivian A. Brown, the elder of the famed Brown twin sisters who together were a beloved San Francisco fixture for more than 40 years.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee, District Seven Supervisor Norman Yee and representatives from City agencies and the community will join together to commemorate Brown and roll out this year’s Arbor Day celebrations with a tree-planting ceremony. Vivian Brown’s surviving twin sister, Marian B. Brown, also hopes to attend the event.

When: 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, rain or shine 

Where: Sloat Boulevard and Cranleigh Drive (near Junipero Serra Blvd.) 

Photo opportunity: Crane lowering tree into the ground

“What a wonderful way to celebrate my dear, dear sister,” Brown said. Her sister, older by eight minutes, died this past Jan. 9 at age 85. The Michigan-born twins, who dressed alike in impeccable and eye-catching attire, were inseparable public figures adored by San Francisco locals and visitors alike.

“We were honored to have Vivian Brown choose San Francisco as her home and grace us for so long, and now we have a chance to honor her with a living tribute – a wonderful tree that will be enjoyed for generations,” Mayor Lee said. “She represented the best of the City.”

The tree chosen to honor Brown is a Calocedrus decurrens, more commonly known as a California incense cedar, which will be lowered into the ground by crane. A native of California and other western states, the species can reach 100 feet into the sky at maturity.

“Arbor Day gives us a chance to come together as a community to celebrate the importance of trees, and every year San Francisco plants a signature tree to also celebrate a person whose 

significant civic and cultural contributions should not be forgotten,” said Mohammed Nuru, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Works.

DPW oversees the more than 100,000 street trees in San Francisco and organizes the signature tree-dedication program, now in its eighth year. Past honorees are Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Ruth Asawa, Dr. Ellen Wolf, Dana Woldow, Charlie Starbuck and Wangari Maathai.

The signature tree-planting ceremony signals the start of San Francisco’s Arbor Day festivities; California’s official celebration of trees actually lasts a week and runs through March 14. 

On Saturday, in partnership with San Francisco State University, DPW will host a Community Clean Team event from 8:30 a.m. to noon to clean and green District Seven neighborhoods. A major focus will be on trees. City crews and volunteers will plant 70 trees along the Junipero Serra Boulevard median and sidewalks and 19th Avenue sidewalks. Other trees in the area will be pruned, and tree basins will be spruced up.

“Arbor Day is a day dedicated for us to plant and care for trees in remembrance of trees and forests’ contribution to the health of humanity,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, which cares for some 100,000 trees in City parkland. “In partnership with DPW, we are committed to green our City with tree planting so that we can maintain and expand our urban forests.”

Added Melanie Nutter, director of San Francisco Department of the Environment: “Arbor Day reminds us that trees beautify our City, clean our air and protect our environment by absorbing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. San Franciscans can celebrate year round by participating in local tree planting or helping to maintain a tree in your neighborhood.”

Supervisor Yee said he welcomes the attention his district will receive this Arbor Day, and is especially pleased that Vivian Brown will be honored. “The tree dedicated to Vivian Brown and the dozens of other trees planted in the area will beautify the neighborhoods, help clean the air and provide habitat for birds and butterflies,” he said. “What a wonderful way to celebrate Arbor Day and the truly magnificent life of Vivian Brown, a true San Francisco icon.”

For more information on DPW, Rec and Park and Department of the Environment tree programs, visit: 

www.sfdpw.org/trees  

www.sfrecpark.org/forest  

http://www.sfenvironment.org/buildings-environments/urban-forestry