From the Executive Director
Caring for our Aging Beauties

Dear Friends,

In your visits, you might have seen that there is a lot going on in the Garden right now, including some major renovations. But what you will probably notice the most is the arborist work. The trees of San Francisco Botanical Garden are getting special attention this spring. A comprehensive tree management plan has been developed and began Monday, March 26, to care for the aging beauties that have served as the backbone of the Botanical Garden since its inception.

Tree management in the Botanical Garden.

In the late nineteenth century, a section of Golden Gate Park was reserved for an arboretum, and a few trees were planted in anticipation of this future use. Many of these original trees still stand in what is now known as San Francisco Botanical Garden. The great beginnings of our Garden are rooted in these majestic old trees and it is with great respect that we now turn our attention to their special needs in an effort to ensure their health and longevity.

Staff have been working with a team of arborists to develop the very best plan to care for the health and safety of the major trees in the Garden. Bartlett Tree Experts, in collaboration with Dr. James Clark of HortScience, have completed a thorough evaluation of existing and potential plant health issues for more than 800 trees in the Garden and have developed a program of appropriate and special care for these trees. The plan concentrates on what we're calling the two "H's": Health & Hazards. A tree crew from Bartlett Tree Experts will be pruning and caring for the health of our large trees and removing hazardous branches and limbs. The crew will be exercising appropriate care for visitor safety and wildlife preservation.

Some areas of the garden will be closed to all visitors for their safety while tree work is underway. We will close sections of the garden for as short a time as possible and only close those sections with immediate work being done. This work, along with our planned re-paving and reconfiguration of the pathway system, is some of the most important we are currently undertaking and should provide a noticeable improvement for our visitors.

Best regards,

Michael McKechnie
Executive Director, San Francisco Botanical Garden Society

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