The maple trees along our side yard border had grown down as well as up so we recently had them trimmed from beneath. Now the view from the kitchen window is more like part of a natural history museum.

Before being trimmed back, the scene had gradually become a solid green wall. But now when I’m working at the kitchen sink, what I see out the window is a little park. The lot next to us is long and narrow, the house is near the middle, and the residents seldom come out to the far end of their property. The view is a flat rectangle of neatly-kept lawn and occasional trees. A simple picture behind a fairly busy street.

I don’t know if wild animals have a built-in sensor for a roadmap but this yard is often a pathway for creatures on the move. I have seen otters, deer, skunks and, of course, squirrels short-cutting across that yard. The otter was no doubt coasting from one nearby pond to the next, and the others may just be passing through by accident. No coyotes or mongoose, but I’m not talking about surprises. Just that it is a small blessing to observe a living diorama, literally behind glass.

The treetops everywhere are beginning to blush. Certain spots around town always draw my attention this time of year. The rosy highlights of the changing season are especially noticeable around the North Tisbury bridge.

Another favorite glimpse is of that shrub of conical hydrangea peniculata leaning over the fence at the late Jane Newhall’s house. Its heavyweight blossoms, big as your head and tinged with pink, bend toward the road over the fence as if they are hitchhiking up the little hill toward Alley’s store.

Keeping in touch with old friends can easily fizzle after many years. Especially, perhaps, with childhood friends. But it doesn’t have to be this way. For example, Ed Levine and his wife Vicki Bijur are back in town after attending Ed’s junior high school reunion. Ed is the author of Serious Eats and host of the podcast, Special Sauce. He grew up in Cedarhurst on Long Island, N.Y., and graduated from the high school there in 1969. Each year Ed and seven of his middle school mates and their spouses get together for a reunion. This is their 46th year.

Vicki reports that the annual event was held this year in Lenox in the Berkshires. She said they had, once again, a wonderful visit with people whose company they enjoy. Ever since the group’s 40th reunion in 2009, they decided not to meet again at the school, but to gather in different parts of the country. Vicki noted that no one from the group has chosen to live on Long Island.

Joan Apt and David Smith joyfully announce the arrival of a new granddaughter, Annabelle, who was born this past Saturday, Sept. 27. Annabelle’s parents are Kelli Bird and Alex Smith, and Annabelle has a brother Desmond, who is four and three-quarters. The family lives in Beacon, N.Y.

Happy birthday on Saturday, Oct. 4 to Fain Hackney, and on Saturday, Oct. 5 to Dana Nunes and Timothy Maley (himself). Soo Whiting and Elisha Weisner both will celebrate their big day on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Part-time resident and actor Tony Shalhoub will celebrate his birthday on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Congratulations and happy wedding anniversary to Tom Hodgson and Christine Gault on Saturday, Oct. 4.