Tour a Lush, Enchanting Garden in Minnesota

Sandra Mangel spent most of her career styling rooms as an interior designer, but when she stepped into Claude Monet’s garden on a trip to France, she realized she was just as passionate about working outside, too. “I took one look at it and thought, ‘I could do this!’ ” she says. “I loved his color palette and layering style, carefree but controlled.” For years Sandra played around with the design of her own yard, and now that it’s established, she spends most of her time on upkeep — as many as five hours a day! Her hard work has drawn lots of attention, including recognition from the local newspaper and praise from neighbors. “Recently a woman told me she goes out of her way to pass my garden,” Sandra says. “It makes me happy that it brings other people joy.”

Most of the flowers in the front are from just three color families: pink, yellow and lavender. They include bee balm, false sunflowers and phlox. The window box is filled with vibrant Vista Bubblegum Supertunia and sweet potato vine. Sandra asked an artist friend to give her front door a marbleized effect.

She designed this wooden gate and fence to complement the original lattice on the front of her 1913 house. “I added the tall side pieces to make it look more engaging,” she says.

Sandra organized this border with the shortest plants in the front and the tallest in the back. “The curves here are one of the more romantic elements of cottage garden design,” says Sandra.