In this Inside Sacramento article, Anne Fenkner from Davey Resource Group explains the story behind "The Skinny Garden" and how it is improving school greening efforts. 

Posted: March 06, 2025

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.”

To read more about "The Skinny Garden," click here.

The Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio, provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental and utility infrastructure consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. As one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S., Davey's 12,000 employees have been dedicated to creating and delivering sustainable solutions since 1880. Apply today to join the Davey legacy, and learn about how we're growing with our new SEED Campus

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