Tour a Dramatic, Whimsical Garden in Minneapolis

When Cate Curry chooses plants for her Minneapolis garden, she isn’t necessarily looking for the prettiest ones. “I’m more drawn to unique varieties that add texture,” she says. Local landscaper Scott Endres of Tangletown Gardens helped her get the right mix of evergreens, ornamental grasses and flowers for a lived-in, layered effect. “Scott spent hours arranging them,” says Cate. “But it doesn’t look overly done.”

She adds a smattering of annuals each season and, with her husband, Tim Mulcahy, tends to what’s there every day. “Scott made me a detailed list of how to maintain each plant,” she says.

The garden pays them back with peace: “It’s the kind of place that instantly makes you feel grounded,” Cate says. “An oasis in the middle of the city.”

One of Cate’s goals for the backyard was to attract all sorts of critters. The evergreens provide shelter for birds, and the flower beds include many pollinator-friendly plants. “We’ve been seeing a lot more butterflies recently,” she says. “It’s quite nice.”

This perennial is great for bouquets and produces dozens of blooms on every plant.

This pom-pom–like ornamental onion attracts bees, butterflies and other pretty pollinators.

The bright red flowers on this shade-tolerating perennial bloom from spring to late summer.

This perennial plant has striking purple foliage; in summer, it blooms tiny purple flowers like these.

This variety (Mrs. Pollock geranium) is best known for its tricolor red, green and gold leaves, as well as its bright red blooms.