On a Saturday morning in La Grange the village wakes early — the shops along the main street unlock, the theatre marquee sits dark and patient over the sidewalk, and the elms make one long tunnel of shade down the side streets. Prairie Path Group works those lawns before the day gets loud, mowing narrow front yards and deep back ones, cutting the parkway strip clean along the curb line. In a village of old houses set close together the edge is everything; a sharp line at the walk makes a small lot look composed. Autumn is a long haul here, with the big trees dropping for weeks, and the cleanup runs until they have finished. Western Springs, Countryside and Brookfield are a short run down the same streets.