Beautiful bird isn't it? I saw my first Eastern Towhee myself just yesterday. It was a male scratching around in the leaves, throwing all sorts of things in the air.

It's different here in that the towhees (western spotted towhees) spend the spring summer and fall up in the higher elevations in the forest areas and the mountain meadows where they nest and raise their young ones. In winter when the cold and snow drive them down into the foothills and valleys. where they spend the winters. only to leave again in spring for the mountains again.

Wow. Another winner! I assume that you have a lot of seedlings that you are taking care of..

More advantages of using shredded fall leaves as mulch: They are free Mix with some used coffee grounds from you local Starbucks and you have created earthworm heaven. Mulch generously and you will allow them to stay closer to the surface during the winter. Weeding in the spring will be a snap. By the time you plant tomatoes, peppers and beans most of it will have turned to compost. So much so that by mid to late June you will need to re-mulch to keep your beds cool, moist, and weed-free.