Abundance is a difficult thing to judge. Changes to the abundance of a particular species are relative to our perception of its abundance when we first observe the species. Our first observations become our baseline against which we measure changes in our natural world. Is this appropriate? Consider horseshoe crabs.

I have been meaning to compliment all the businesses and private homes in Vineyard Haven who have done a stupendous job this year with plantings and flowers. It seems like this is the best year ever. Special mention to Mike and Elaine Ciancio on Franklin street who have planted so many beautiful flowers. I think the grown kids and grandkids had something to do with this.

It will come as no surprise to regular readers that the town of Oak Bluffs was the first on Martha’s Vineyard with airplanes. On July 15, 1919, two arrived from the Navy base at Chatham — one landed at the steamship dock and the other at the Inkwell. Both were Curtiss Seagulls, hydroplanes or sea planes as we now call them. Ten days later another landed in Oak Bluffs harbor, becoming the first charter flight as they brought in East Chop’s Melvin B. Miller and Myron J. Brown, both tired of the long train ride from Manhattan.

An Oak Bluffs food inspector has resigned amid disagreement with the board of health over the enforcement of health code violations.

Ron Tolin, who had served the town for five years, submitted his resignation on Sept. 3, effective Sept. 10. Calling it a “hard decision,” Mr. Tolin said in a letter that his action was prompted in part by the board’s decision to keep Fat Ronnie’s hamburger restaurant open despite multiple violations of the health code.

This fall, as the weather cools and many turn indoors poised to pick a book off the bookshelf and lose themselves in another world, Aquinnah resident Philip Weinstein hopes it will be a Faulkner novel.

His wish is likely to be granted, with more than 60 Islanders signed up for a course he’s offering this fall at the Vineyard Haven Library. Discovering Faulkner’s Fiction begins on Sept. 24 and will explore three of Faulkner’s best-regarded works over a series of four classes.

It is either brrrrr or it is too hot for this time of year. That is what we are now experiencing. Now is the time when we open the windows to warm up the house because it is too early to turn on the heat and it is warmer outside than it is inside. Then, by this weekend we are going to hit the high 70s again. Love it.

Hummingbirds are surprisingly abundant for mid September. A request for information sent out yesterday generated 19 responses, 14 of which still had either females or immatures at their feeders on Sept. 16. Wow! I did not expect that many responses. Charlie Kernick was the only one to report that a male was still present, so the males have apparently left already. The other five responses had observed hummers either last week or over the weekend. Thanks to all the respondents; there are too many names to list them all.

Well, Sunday is the first day of the fall season and we are thankful for all of our summer memories as September is slipping away as quick as you can say Jack Frost! We know he is waiting just around the corner but it doesn’t seem possible with the beautiful Indian summer weather we are having. The shoulder season of transit service will cease on Oct. 8. Colleen Morris reports that Monday she will be celebrating Johnny Appleseed Day. Folks are busy harvesting the last of their vegetables from their gardens and what few berries that may still be available for canning. We are settling into our fall routines as the sun is now setting around 7 p.m.

Chilmark is enjoying several bright fall days that make everything look shiny. Our roadsides appear to have survived the busy summer, looking less dusty and worn than other years. Must have been the rains. Folks are still on the move and good weather has attracted visitors.

The northeast wind stopped by early this week just to remind me that she’d be back later to rattle my windows and sandblast my shingles. Thanks, northeast.

The skunks and geese have returned as well, and won’t be leaving any time soon. The skunks arrive green side at my golf course to enjoy a ripe crop of grubs rustling just below the surface. The geese are content just to hang out, poop on stuff, chit-chat, and stumble about (like my nephews). I’d call them lazy but I understand that they fly quite a bit and maybe deserve a rest.