October on the North Brookfield common: the maples let go all at once and the bandstand stands in a drift of yellow. Grounds Unlimited Inc handles both halves of the calendar here — mowing, trimming and leaf cleanup while the ground is still soft, then plowing, shoveling and salting once it isn't. The changeover is abrupt in this corner of Worcester County; a mild week can end with an inch of ice glazing the front walk. Knowing a property in summer makes it easier to clear in winter — where the culvert sits, which side of the drive banks up, where snow can be piled without burying the shrubs. Same ground, two different sets of tools, one continuous attention.