Natural brick is often considered a traditional building material. Here’s how people are using it in contemporary gardens too

Leaning against a brick garden wall warmed by the autumn sun, I pondered whether this ancient building material has a place in contemporary garden design. Is it a relic of traditional gardens? Brick has been a favorite material for gardens for centuries, from Roman courtyards and Tudor knot garden paths to the walls surrounding Victorian vegetable gardens. Winston Churchill, the British wartime prime minister, found brick laying to be a form of relaxation and built an extensive wall at his Chartwell garden.

Brick, which has been with us in one form or another since humans first started building, is most often formed from kneaded clay, molded into its familiar shape and then fired at a high temperature. Today, with garden designers embracing other construction materials, is there a place for brick in the garden? I think there is, and I’m sure that when you’ve had a look at some examples of great contemporary garden design using brick, you’ll agree.

Make a pumpkin family portrait — no carving! — and other simple but eye-catching fall tabletop and mantel arrangements

Even with just a few days till October 31, it’s not too late to decorate. Pumpkins from the grocery store, leaves from the backyard and a few things around the house can transform a table or mantel into Halloween central.

Take your surroundings to another level by introducing the element of sound with ground covers, water features and wind catchers

Our gardens can be our best teachers. We learn about ourselves and our world from them. Our only prerequisite for this course is our ability to open our senses to the wealth of sights, aromas, textures and sounds that gently engulf us.

Even as I write this ideabook, sitting in my garden, I’m conscious of the sounds that surround me. With the squirrel rustling leaves on the forest floor, the cardinal singing high overhead, the owl vocalizing deep in the woodland background and the waterfall adding its syncopated cadence to the mix, my garden is alive with sound.

Let’s look at how to add another dimension to your garden by introducing the element of sound. You will enjoy your own private symphony when you stop long enough to listen.

If you can’t park your car in your garage you’ll love this idea.

If you’re looking for a place to store holiday decorations, you’ll love this idea.

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Add some toons to give your home a one-two punch of fun

As people gear up for New York Comic Con on October 9, fans are digging out their costumes for the four-day conference dedicated to all things comics, graphic novels, movies, television and more. More than 100,000 people will immerse themselves in a fantasy world for four days, but for some homeowners, the fantasy is a daily reality. In the rooms below, designers and homeowners have provided some comic relief for their interiors.