--- title: "SPECIALTY GARDENS — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~722396422 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~722396422.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "SPECIALTY GARDENS" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/9ad303b403ea3849_2435-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Medicine Hat, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1B 2T3, Canada" latitude: 49.9904 longitude: -110.6622 phone: "(403) 580-7220" website: http://specialtygardens.ca rating: 5 review_count: 19 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 16 last_updated: 2026-08-26 --- # SPECIALTY GARDENS Original Houzz profile: [SPECIALTY GARDENS](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~722396422) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** Medicine Hat, AB - **Serves:** Alberta, Desert Blume, Dunmore, Medicine Hat, Redcliff, Rural Areas, South Alberta and Saskatchewan - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (19 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2020–2023), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 100 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Locally owned - 34 years in business Specialty Gardens is a certified professional landscape design company that has been providing professional landscape design and horticultural consulting services since 1989. We have provided environmentally sensitive design solutions in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan and our work continues to be distinctive, individual to the client’s needs, and unique in detail. Specialty Gardens caters to homeowners, developers, architects, municipalities, and community leaders to devise sustainable and beautiful landscapes that strive to enhance existing features; architectural or otherwise. Your completed project and landscape spaces tell a story, it is who you are and what is meaningful to you. Your creative ideas, interests and preferences are paramount. Our designers interpret your wish lists and incorporate these thoughts into a plan that will address your priorities and dreams. ### Services Provided - Landscape Design - Garden Design - Landscape Plans - Patio Design - Drought Tolerant Landscaping - Site Planning - Swimming Pool Design - Custom Water Features - Design Consultation - Outdoor Lighting Design - Deck Design - Drafting - Organic Gardens - Edible Gardens - Natural Swimming Pools - Potted Plants - Rain Garden Design ### Areas Served - Alberta - Desert Blume - Dunmore - Medicine Hat - Redcliff - Rural Areas - South Alberta and Saskatchewan ### Typical Job Cost CAD 3,000 - CAD 100,000 Our projects come in all shapes and sizes. And often they are large but cannot be completed all at once because of time or budget or both. Do not let those constraints stop you from planning! We can work out phasing your project so you are ready to go when all the obstacles are out of the way and your drawings can become reality! ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | SPECIALTY GARDENS | | Address | Medicine Hat, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1B 2T3, Canada | | Phone | (403) 580-7220 | | Website | http://specialtygardens.ca | | Followers on Houzz | 16 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/specialtygardens.mh/ - Blog — https://specialtygardens.ca/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [SPECIALTY GARDENS](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~722396422) - **Website:** http://specialtygardens.ca - **Phone:** (403) 580-7220 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Certified & Fellow APLD, Associate AB Assoc. of Landscape Architects, Horticulturist, OLC, Botanical Soc. of America, NA Native Plants Soc., American Soc. of Plant Taxonomists, NA Japanese Garden Assoc., International Society of Arboriculture - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2020–2023), for Service. **Affiliations** - [Association of Professional Landscape Designers](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/association-of-professional-landscape-designers-pfvwus-pf~92795973) - [Canadian Nursery Landscape Association](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/canadian-nursery-landscape-association-pfvwus-pf~689510443) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 19 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — HU-365894867, Oct. 2022** > Very happy with our yard project! Annette was very attentive to our request for low maintenance plants and managed to create a lovely, colourful corner in our otherwise very plain yard! Highly recommend! **Comment from SPECIALTY GARDENS:** > Thank you very much for your kind words, I appreciate the time you took to send this review! **★★★★★ — HU-520264560, July 2022** > This past spring Annette helped us to take a landscape nightmare and turn it into a beautiful park like environment. She has a treasure chest full of great knowledge, ideas and strategies. Now that summer has arrived we offer many Happy Hour toasts to Annette for helping us to create this relaxing backyard setting. We definitely recommend Annette to anyone wanting to improve their property landscape and features. **★★★★★ — candicefuller, July 2020** > We hired Annette to draw up a blueprint and plan out all our flower beds. She was wonderful to work with. Her designs were amazing and her knowledge was top notch. I have zero green thumb and she answered my millions of questions. I feel confident if I have any questions down the road and reached out to her she would be more then happy to assist. She also got all our plants for us delivered to our home. Highly Recommend! **★★★★★ — Melinda V, July 2020** > We hired Annette to create a landscape plan for our new acreage. Besides being such a pleasant person to work with (over email and phone in our case), she is also very creative and meticulous in her designs! We are SO happy with the plan she came up with; it was well worth the wait and investment. Highly recommended! Thank you Annette!! **★★★★★ — HU-354148830, July 2020** > What started out as yard maintenance on our home purchase turned into a landscaping design and update. We were so happy with the design, attention to what we liked and wanted and with the removal and wintering of plants to be moved back into our redesigned yard. The end result is fabulous. The crew at Specialty Gardens continues to maintain our yard beautifully and we know that next year will even look better once our plants settle in. We now have a more functional space and our so happy with the end result. **★★★★★ — Justin Robertson, Feb. 2020** > Being in the Hardscape/ Landscape industry since 2004, I have had the pleasure on working with Specialty Gardens on numerous projects. > Always very thorough and exceptionally designed. It's always a plus when a project has a Landscape Plan from Annette! **Comment from SPECIALTY GARDENS:** > Thank you Justin. The quality of your workmanship shows off my designs; I know what you build will be put together beautifully. I look forward to working with you again this season. **★★★★★ — Ken Blair, Dec. 2019** > I hired this company to do a full yard design in conjunction with a full renovation on a 50 year old house. The plans that were submitted were outstanding and included unique features to take advantage of the house and its surroundings. The plans included plants and shrubs selected to do well in our climate as well as suggestions for concrete features on the driveway and newly installed stairs. The time frame was perfect and the price was very reasonable. They acquired all of the plant material and installed it for us. I have also retained the company on an ongoing basis for yard maintenance including spring clean up, flower pot design and installation, weed control, pruning, fall clean up etc. I highly recommend this company. **Comment from SPECIALTY GARDENS:** > Thank you Ken for your kind words and your ongoing support. Yours was a design inspiration; the entire feel of your home is unique and welcoming, and reflects the warm and giving personalities of you and your partner so well. Thank you for giving us a chance to explore creative design solutions for one of the most beautiful view homes in the city. **★★★★★ — Michael Keck, Dec. 2019** > Specialty Gardens designed our xeriscape yard over 10 years ago. This included the requirement for water retention ponds, as well as hard and soft coverage. Detailed drawings needed to be submitted to the municipality for approval. Once approved, they became project managers working with various subs to ensure the job was done to design specs. They continue to do fall and spring maintenance and work effectively and efficiently to get the job done. > They are always very good at what they do.. **★★★★★ — bwwiebe, Dec. 2019** > We required someone to plan a major redo of our back yard and contracted Annette Vierling of Specialty Gardens. We we’re impressed with her expertise and pleasant demeanour and very pleased with the result as the plan matured. Deck, all elevations, material recommendations including stone, rock, grass and of course all plant recommendations, all at reasonable cost including her travel. We highly recommend Annette. **★★★★★ — kjcrid, Nov. 2019** > i engaged the services of Specialty Gardens late in the summer, and was very happy with all services provided. The service was prompt, friendly and professional and I look forward to working with Specialty gardens again next summer. **★★★★★ — Albert Stark, Nov. 2019** > Specialty Gardens provided professional and friendly service for the design of the landscape at our new office building. Annette and her team answered any and all questions we had before and after the project was completed, always taking into consideration our needs, our environment, and aesthetics. They are creative, resourceful, and responsive and we are incredibly happy with the beautiful and clean work provided, even now, three years later! Anette and her team at Specialty Gardens are a valuable source of creativity, design, and knowledge and we highly recommend them for any landscaping needs. **★★★★★ — HU-403374954, Nov. 2019** > I cannot say enough about Annette and Specialty Gardens. When I did the full landscaping of my yard I really had no idea where to start and Annette made it all so easy. From drawing the concept and giving me ideas and options to explaining bylaws and recommending contractors she was so helpful. I would not hesitate to recommend using Annette and her service. It is very much worth it. > I also use her services to maintain my plants while I work away and her crews are super professional and do an excellent job. > > Ryan Dundas ## Selected projects - [Medicine Hat College - Teaching Garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/medicine-hat-college-teaching-garden-pj-vj~1471879) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 14 - Description: The Medicine Hat College Teaching Garden has been completed and is an excellent example of what can be achieved through the efforts of many in one community. The development site of the garden is situated in a sheltered area on campus, already enhanced by the presence of towering Spruce trees as well as several mature Green Ash trees.It was imperative for many reasons that these trees were incorporated into the design; not the least being a habitat for wildlife. This area of campus provides entr… - [Private Deck with Views](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/private-deck-with-views-pj-vj~7006496) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 17 - [Breathtaking City Views](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/breathtaking-city-views-pj-vj~5863527) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 36 - [Grand Entrance](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/grand-entrance-pj-vj~6318070) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 21 - [Backyard Paradise](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/backyard-paradise-pj-vj~6318186) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 14 - [European Elegance](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/european-elegance-pj-vj~6318217) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 20 - [Historic Charm](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/historic-charm-pj-vj~6318116) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 15 - [Endless Views](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/endless-views-pj-vj~6318197) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 14 - [Mediterranean Terrace](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mediterranean-terrace-pj-vj~1471876) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 11 - Description: "The very first time we met Annette Vierling from Specialty Gardens, we felt confident that all our needs would be met. She spent time getting to know us, defining our style & preferences....She then put together an amazingly detailed plan of what our garden would look like. We were very impressed!!! We used this plan to follow through with getting the work done...contractors had an easy time reading the plan, because it was so explicit...all we can say is that the garden is a show stopper!!! Ou… - [Resort in the City](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/resort-in-the-city-pj-vj~6318191) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 10 - [Aspen Terrace](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/aspen-terrace-pj-vj~5863523) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 4 - [Desert Cabana](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/desert-cabana-pj-vj~5863484) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 6 - Description: Outdoor rooms are a simple way to not only add interest to the landscape, but also to extend outdoor living time. The addition of a cabana can include change rooms, showers, a lounging area with a fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and even a bar or dining area. It can be a cozy room to safely watch thunderstorms at night over the prairie coulee or a covered retreat to house a toasty hot tub on a wintry evening. Pergolas are another way of extending rooms into the outdoors; although not completely co… - [Relaxing Fire Feature](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/relaxing-fire-feature-pj-vj~5863487) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 9 - Description: "I have sincerely enjoyed working with Specialty Gardens 10 years and counting; it has been a privilege. We have completed approximately 20 high-end landscape projects using these plans. I have been amazed at the detail from elevations to the orientation drawn to scale for all surface treatments. The attention to detail and creative eye has not only been responsible for making hundreds of customers happy, but you have also made it easy for those actually doing the work to make the dream come to… - [Grand Staircase](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/grand-staircase-pj-vj~5863513) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 2 - [Spacial Solo Patio](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/spacial-solo-patio-pj-vj~5863517) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 5 - Description: "Recently my husband and I were able to purchase our dream home in Desert Blume AB, and were looking for someone to help us realize our vision for the undeveloped yard. We wanted someone acquainted with all the guidelines and codes for landscaping in Desert Blume and we wanted our new yard to be really creative yet low-maintenance. Knowing that this would be the yard that we would be enjoying for a very long time, we didn’t want there to be compromises or regret that we didn’t follow through wit… - [Simple Sweeping Arcs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/simple-sweeping-arcs-pj-vj~5863519) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 7 - [Elegant Courtyard](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/elegant-courtyard-pj-vj~5863514) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 10 - [Flagstone Pathways](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/flagstone-pathways-pj-vj~5864372) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 8 - [Curved Pergola](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/curved-pergola-pj-vj~1471887) - Location: Medicine Hat, AB - Photos: 6 - [Tiered Walls](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tiered-walls-pj-vj~5864377) - Location: Desert Blume, AB - Photos: 4 [See all 34 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/specialty-gardens-pfvwus-pf~722396422) ## Ideabooks - [Trex colors with blue siding](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/152872240/list/trex-colors-with-blue-siding) — 16 ideas - [Swift Current](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/135431884/list/swift-current) — 14 ideas - [Petrick Pergola](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/69672246/list/petrick-pergola) — 8 ideas [See all 3 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/funkette) --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-26.*