Windmill Garden Centre and Butterfly House
920 1st Street SW T1A 3Z8 Medicine Hat, AB, Canada

Who remembers what the weather was like on this day last year? This photo was taken early on in the storm and doesn’t show even a quarter of how much snow we got. Thankfully it didn’t last long.

Fall officially began this week! What do we do now? Luckily, our friend, Whitney from 3 Little Birds Tree Care, Inc. (https://www.facebook.com/3littlebirdstreecare/) has a few tips to get your gardens ready for winter. (*Hint: water!*) As we enter the fall season trees, shrubs and perennials begin to divert their energies towards root growth. Though watering requirements may lessen with cooler temperatures it is crucial to continue watering well into the fall until the grou...nd freezes. When watering the ground should be well saturated, if there has not been a deep soaking rain you should be watering deeply every 10-14 days. Evergreens especially require well saturated soil before entering dormancy - as sun and high winds can accelerate winter drying. Plants cannot take up additional water from the frozen soil and will rely on retained moisture. Wood mulch can also be placed around the base of your plants to a thickness of approximately 2 inches leaving space between the mulch and the base of your plants to prevent trapping moisture against the crown. Mulch will help to retain soil moisture, regulate ground temperatures and promote a healthy root system. Many thanks to Whitney for taking the time to write this as I know it continues to be a busy year for you. I will be flooding the irrigation ditches again on my shelter belt next week. - Keri-Anne

Lyubov Steven Solodyankina Hochheimer asked how to prepare strawberries and raspberries for winter. Thank you for your question. Here’s my answer based on what I could research and my experience. Feel free to share your hints in the comments. Raspberries can usually withstand our winters, with it’s cycle chinooks and late snowfalls with just a bit of attention on the fall. 1. Pruning: Once the plant has stopped producing fruit and is beginning to lose it’s leaves, you can ta...ke out the older canes, cut them right down to the ground. These are called Floricanes or second year canes that have fruited. They are darker and more woody than first year canes (Primocanes). The first year canes can be cut down to about 3 feet if need be. It’s ok to cut down all the canes which means you may have larger crop but not until later next season. Please note: this is a general guideline and you may need to adjust depending on what variety you have. 2. Watering: We usually stop watering in August but resume in late September until freeze up. Long, low and slow is best so the water can soak deep into the ground. This will provide the roots with insulation throughout the winter. Mulch (like straw or finely shredded leaves) will also help retain the water and protect the roots. One suggestion I’ve heard is to bury or cover the canes. Bending the tips or the whole plant down and cover with soil then uncovering them in the spring. I’m not sure if that’s needed but it wouldn’t hurt. I think if they are in a fairly protective spot and are watered in well, any winter kill on the remaining canes will be minimal. With the exception of pruning, treat strawberries pretty much the same way. Water in well before freeze up and cover the plants with straw just after the first frost. Depending on the variety, the plants are already creating blooms for next year’s fruit and you don’t want them to freeze. But if you cover them too early you will stop their growth. Be careful removing the mulch in the spring so you don’t rip up any plants. Keep bit around the base of the plants to protect roots and hold on to the mulch in case of a late frost. - Keri-Anne

Hi! I thought, since I will be the person behind this page for a while, I should introduce myself. Im Keri-Anne. I work in the perennial house at the Windmill, recently finished my second season there. Personally, I live on an acreage outside of Hays with a few ever-changing perennial gardens, a veggie garden, many trees, two cats, and a dog. Im an amateur gardener who is lucky to have an very cool job that helps me learn more about plants and the people of my hometown, Medicine Hat. Even though the Windmill is closed for the season, I will be here to try and answer your questions and hopefully provide some information to get you ready for winter and excited for next spring. So if there is any topic you would like me to talk about, feel free to message us on FB or through our website.

Thank you to everyone who came out this season. Your support means so much. We will announce when we open up again come spring. In the meantime, someone will be here on FB to help with any questions. Enjoy the rest of your summer and have a great winter.

Now if 50% tropicals wasn’t enough to entice you, how about 50% off all our giftware, pots, bird baths and garden decor like our zen frogs!

Now if 50% tropicals wasnt enough to entice you, how about 50% off all our giftware, pots, bird baths and garden decor like our zen frogs!

Here it is. In less than 48 hours the Windmill Garden Centre will be closed for the season. But, that also means for the next two days tropicals and succulents are on sale for 50% off. You have room for more plants, right? Yes, yes, you do.

You may have seen this ad in the newspaper or heard it on the radio. Yes, we are nearing the end of this amazing gardening season. The Windmill Garden Centre will be closed after August 15 until February 2021. BUT! That means there is still time to visit us and take advantage of some great sales. ... *All tropicals & succulents are 30% off *All giftware and garden decor is 30% off - this includes pottery, plastic pots, trellises, birdbaths, fountains and birdhouses. *All remaining perennials and bedding plants are 75% off Dont forget, we still have a good selection of fertilizers for your fall needs.

Finally some wind so we can show this off. Havent you ever wanted your very own windmill?

Our last order of tropicals and succulents arrived! Hoya Pubicalyx, Maidenhair vine, Umbrella plant, Nephthytis Glo-Go, among others. This beauty is Stromanthe.

The Windmilll will be closed on Sunday as usual and Monday for the holiday. We are open tomorrow 10am to 4pm so stop in to pick the soil or fertilizer you need for the long weekend projects.

Finally! People have been asking and we finally got in Aloe Vera plants! They look great.

Nothing beats the heat like freshly made salsa or cooling mint cucumber salad. Come check out our selection of locally grown vegetables to add to your dinner table.

Another lovely shipment of tropicals came in yesterday including this Maranta Rabbit Tracks. How cute are those little marks!

Delivery day! We now have a beautiful selection of flowering tropicals including African Violets, Cyclamen, miniature roses and Azaleas.

Our big windmill is being spruced up. Its going to look so smart in a week or so and for years to come. While we are working, please use the side door to avoid the big machinery and the tall ladder inside by the main doors.

More tropicals have arrived! Ribbon plants and other Dracaena varieties, air plants, snake plants, ferns and these adorable pots.

So many people buying gifts like these cute planters (on sale, 25% off) for their friends and family this week! Gift Cards are another great idea and can be used next year when we are fully stocked again.

Love these little Myrtle trees that came in with our tropical order yesterday.

Please note our new store hours. Monday -Saturday we are opened 10 am - 4pm and we are closed Sundays.

Another shipment of tropicals has been received and unpacked. They are ready to go home! (Pictured Silver Babys Tears.)

The Windmill Garden Centre will be closed July 1st. Come visit us on Thursday and have a happy & safe Canada Day.

Hello friends of the Windmill! We wish to thank everyone for the wonderful support youve shown us this year. Its been incredible and humbling. There are still some beautiful plants left including weekly arrivals of new tropicals and succulents. But even if you dont get a chance to come down, dont fear. We are already getting prepared for Spring 2021!

We would like our customers to know we are sold out of the following: seed potatoes Cilantro Pumpkin ... strawberry blonde marigolds 3 1/2 inch big beef tomatoes 3 1/2 inch beef steak tomatoes 4 pack tumbler tomatoes 4 pack Jalapeño peppers Roma tomatoes Cosmos 4 & 6 packs of impatients Sorry for any inconvenience. Stay safe

Our staff are very excited to announce that MAY 1st is our reopening day to the public! Unfortunately our selection of trees and shrubs will be unavailable this year, but we have a wonderful selection of perennials, annuals, and giftware. Zinnias are the flowers of the year! They come in a variety of colors and sizes!

Hoping all of you are staying safe during these trying times! The Windmill is currently closed to the public. Our staff are safely continuing to plant and get ready for when we can open. Thank you for your continued support. ... Wishing you well - The Windmill Team See more

Keep voting!!! Voting ends February 23rd!!

Welcome to the 2020 Best of Medicine Hat Reader's Choice Awards. Voting begins Saturday, February 8, 2020 and ends at 11:59pm Sunday, February 23, 2020. You can vote once per day, per IP address, in each category and voting will run through February 23rd. Vote for The Windmill Garden Centre and Butterfly House as your favorite Garden Center ... Thank you to all of our customers for all of your continued love and support!!! https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10162891760485526&id=562775525

The countdown is on!!! We are very excited to let you know we are open February 18th!!! Our staff can't wait to help you with all your garden needs!

We are very excited to see all of you in the New Year! Remember to celebrate safely during the holidays! All the best from our family, to yours.

Wishing you all safe and happy holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving from our families to yours! We sure miss our customers during our closed season. Wishing you happy and safe holidays.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for FREE ICE CREAM!!! Kids under 12 can enjoy a free child scoop of ice cream :) And everyone can enjoy 1/2 price at the Butterfly House!... Plus all of our season end sales are still going on!! A friendly reminder; We will be closed for the season on SEPTEMBER 16, and will reopen in February 2020 :)

Season end blowout! It's almost that time The Windmill Garden Centre will be closing for the season September 15th. Until then;... Perennials/trees/shrubs 60% off Bedding Plants 75% off Giftware 50% off Houseplants 50% off And our last 10% Tuesday for the year will be Sept. 3rd. Store hours: 9am-5pm Butterfly House hours: 10am-5pm Closed Monday, September 2nd

It's never too early for a..... Christmas sale!! All Christmas trees 30% off!... This includes all color trees! All ornaments 75% off and more!!! Store hours 9am-5pm Butterfly house hours 10am-5pm

Summer Clearance is still going! Open 9am-5pm 1/2 price : -All Houseplants!... -Perennials/Trees/Shrubs -Pottery pots -Pond Supplies -Garden Giftware ....and more!! All Bedding Plants 75% off!! And Christmas Stock is now on sale!

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!! We will be closed Monday, Aug 5th. Make sure to come down and enjoy our sales today!!... Trees, shrubs, and all perennials 50% off!!! All bedding plants 75% off!! Fountains, bird baths, benches, etc. 20%off!! All indoor decor, garden giftware, trellis', etc 50% off!! And All tropicals 35% off!! Don't forget our Discount Tuesday! Extra 10% off everything incl. sales August 6! Open 9am-5pm!

Come on down and check out the Enchanted Wings Butterfly House!! We have an astonishing amount of Butterflies and they are out and flying with lots of activity! Amazing varieties and some exquisite ones we haven't seen in quite a while!! The Butterfly House is Open 10:00am-5pm ... Adults $8.50+tax Senior (65+) $7.00+tax Student (ages 13-17) $7.00+tax Children (ages 5-12) $5.00+tax Child (under 5) $FREE Family (2 adults + 2 children) $24.00+tax Additional children $4.00+tax

Always something beautiful to see at the Windmill. Come on down and visit us on this lovely day!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Canada Day! Sales here at the Windmill are still going on! 50% off annuals! 25% off perennials 35% off giftware... And 20% off soil over 15L, mulch, and more!! See more