If you want to get outside and enjoy some winter greenery, Visalia's Mill Creek Trailways are a great destination. The Fairway site, just north of Main Street on Fairway, and the Sierra Vista site, just south of Main on Dollner, are close together and offer pleasant short walks and now thanks to the Master Gardeners, these walks are also an educational tour.

Mill Creek Trailways, established by the City of Visalia and the Urban Tree Foundation, feature California native plants and trees. Recently the Master Gardeners have taken on the project of labeling the native plants and sprucing up these sites. We think you'll notice a difference.

Although some of the plants and trees are in winter dormancy, there are many sporting their new green foliage, and some are flowering in celebration of the cooler weather and winter rains. Early spring and fall are the best times to plant California native plants, so as you walk the trails in winter, you can formulate your planting plan.

California native plant gardens have an informal look with flowing grasses and spreading flowers. Native shrubs give the garden some structure. These gardens once established are relatively carefree, needing occasional watering and pruning.

At Fairway the California Holly Grape has deep shiny green foliage which resembles the traditional Christmas holly. The Coast Silktassel bush is named for its clustered flower tassels which appear in winter. The summer pink flowers of the Snowberry bushes have produced beautiful white berries like pearls dangling on the branches.

Notice the Yarrow with its feathery new leaves which resemble carrot tops. Berkeley Sedge, a clumping grass, has brilliant dark green leaves while the Deer Grass is showing green to brown foliage. Two types of Buckwheat are sprouting new foliage in graceful open patterns and are impressive.

At Sierra Vista, a more woodland type park, a walk down its curving pathways will take you past green Juncus, more Berkeley Sedge, Deer Grass, and California Blue Fescue.

California Sagebrush is wearing its winter fine textured coat of foliage and the Cleveland Sage 'Starlight' is growing new wooly leaves while still sporting dried summer flowers with their wonderful aroma. The Black Sage is also sprouting new aromatic foliage. Brewers Salt Bush is a mounding gray-green bush with leaves which taste very salty. It can be used as a windbreak.

Dendromecon or Island Bush Poppy towers 10 feet high with graceful branches which drape to the ground with brilliant yellow blossoms. The Refugio Manzanita is also celebrating the season with pink blossoms and shiny green foliage.

Many perennial native plants are greening up now in preparation for their spectacular spring and summer show of flowers. These include Penstemon, California fuchsia, Columbine, Yarrow, California Brittlebush (bush sunflower), Blue-eyed grass, Coastal Aster, Wild Iris, Island Bush Snapdragon, Coral Bells, and others.

Several evergreen trees and bushes reside in these parks, including Coastal Live Oak and Interior Live Oak. Ceanothus (Wild Lilac) with its shiny green leaves now will burst into bloom in the spring.

At the Fairway site, the handsome evergreen Hollyleaf Cherry tree is preparing for spring blooms and then red, yellow and purple cherries. California Carpenteria (bush Anemone) is a formal looking shrub which puts on a show of aromatic white flowers in the spring. This shrub is native only to the foothills of Fresno County.

Take a leisurely walk in these parks now and then again in the spring to see the growth and change in these native treasures. Notice the Western Redbud trees which are leafless now sprout brilliant pink flowers and then new green leaves. A mammoth Cottonwood tree now shedding yellow leaves will burst out with white fluff and new green leaves. A graceful Creek Willow hanging over Mill Creek is yellowing now but will grow new narrow green leaves in spring.

Our Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters is perfect for growing these native plants. Most are very heat and drought tolerant, eliminating the need for extensive watering. The severe droughts of the seventies piqued the interest in water-wise gardening. The wealth of California native plants to fill that need is becoming more and more available to the gardener.

At these trailway sites you can really treat your senses, and while you're walking we hope you are inspired to think about where a California native will fit in your landscape.

(Sue Rideout is part of the Tulare-Kings Master Gardener Program. Call 582-3211, ext. 2736, e-mail cekingsdavis.edu or write UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, 680 N. Campus Drive, Suite A, Hanford, CA 93230.Carolyn Carpino is part of the Tulare-Kings Master Gardener Program. Call 582-3211, ext. 2736, e-mail cekingsdavis.edu or write UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, 680 N. Campus Drive, Suite A, Hanford, CA 93230. )

(Dec. 27, 2006)