In the age of Ozempic and Sono Bello, The Skinny Garden is trendy and unique.
It was always skinny, stretching two football fields along the backside of Sacramento Charter High School in Oak Park. At its skinniest, the ribbon of plants measures 10–12 inches wide and squeezes between a chain-link fence and sidewalk along V Street.
The garden boasts hundreds of perennials, small trees and art. Wood-plank paintings by neighborhood children line the fence, along with decorative framed mirrors and signs to discourage littering and flower picking. Many plants are identified by metal labels, others go unnamed.
V Street resident Anne Fenkner created the garden. Fenkner is an urban forester for The Davey Tree Expert Company, a certified arborist and UC Master Gardener.
“It has become a popular walking route,” says Fenkner, who hears compliments from passersby when tending the garden. “I consider it neighborhood improvement.”
Her inspiration sprouted from respectful and dignified interactions between Sac High staff and students.
“Ten years ago, I would sit on my porch and watch students lineup at the old, rusty gate across the street,” Fenkner says. “The students would respectfully wait for the staff to open the gate to begin the school day. They would unlock the gate and politely welcome each student. They had so much respect for the kids.
“It was dignified, even though they were entering the school along this crappy fence. That got me thinking about the ugliness of the fence and how I might introduce nature around it and give the area a more restorative, dignified appearance.”
Neighborhood walkers, runners and parents pushing strollers are drawn to the sidewalk fronting The Skinny Garden. A few neighbors pitch in to help maintain the garden. The relationship with the school has been mostly cooperative, with an occasional hiccup.
Zelkova, Chinese pistache, cork and valley oaks are among The Skinny Garden trees. Fenkner hopes her tree planting serves as an example to improve school greening efforts and inspire others to take advantage of the California Schoolyard Forest System initiative.
The statewide effort aims to increase tree canopy on school properties, providing shade to protect students from heat caused by the changing climate. Fenkner says studies show when viewing vegetation, student stress levels decrease while test performances and attitudes improve.
“Personally, I am passionate about expanding tree canopy on every California schoolyard,” she says.
Before planting trees, there were years of digging planting holes. Fenkner unearthed plants from her yard and transplanted them along the fence.
“My idea was to make an organic garden and keep it heavily mulched with woodchips,” she says.
Depleting her home-grown plant supply, she bought plants at nurseries and plant sales, especially UC Davis Arboretum sales. Friends and neighbors donated plants. She estimates her expenditures in excess of $7,000. One day the bill at Annie’s Annuals & Perennials in Richmond was $700.
Trial and error ensued. Perennials became preferred over annuals, although annuals such as zinnias often color areas where needed. Asters, cannas, yarrows, salvias, roses and butterfly bushes are among the plantings.
“Perennials make it easier to maintain,” Fenkner says.
She gave up on vegetables after repeated attempts. The soil was not conducive to edibles. One possible reason: the Sac High oval track merges with The Skinny Garden.
“The soil is bad, the vegetables had no taste,” she says.
Uneasy about campus maintenance crews spraying chemical herbicides on her newly planted garden, Fenkner asked the head of maintenance to not spray Roundup near The Skinny Garden. She quotes his response as, “I won’t if I don’t see weeds. Keep them off the fence.” A lasting agreement was reached.
Her most time-consuming task is watering. Two hours of watering a day during the hottest months is mandatory. The garden abruptly stops at the end of a hose that cannot be tugged another inch. For now, The Skinny Garden is on a restrictive diet.
Dan Vierria is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener for Sacramento County. He can be reached at masterg29@gmail.com. For answers to gardening questions, contact UCCE Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338, email mgsacramento@ucanr.edu or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
