The Growing Season

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! There was just SOOOO much info. 50 Years and Counting pt. 2 is the feature on this week's episode of The Growing Season. What did people do before the microwave?   Lynne McFarland describes how she would heat up her husband's meal when he arrived home from the jobsite late at night.  "Imagine If You Will" takes you back to 1975.  Jaws,...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! What has changed in the last 50 years? A LOT!   The last half century is dotted with enough change that you could say the world that once was no longer is.   The McFarlands discuss the changes in the world of horticulture that have occurred over the last 50 years.  Jack and Lynne are celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss and we thought that was a great con...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! The situation in California is terrible.   The wildfires in one of the most beautiful parts of the United States have come into focus internationally and we felt it was necessary to explore its ins and outs on The Growing Season.   Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland correlate the Australian Wildfires and those in California.   Could this have been avoided?  ...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! What if it just didn't snow?   Or get below freezing? Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland take a hypothetical journey on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Gone: Winter dives into "what if Winter just disappeared?"  Its a sobering topic but one that needs to be discussed with Climate Change coming to the forefront in the news once...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! The first episode of The Growing Season for 2025 sheds some light on the night. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland steer their sites to Night Vision and the creatures that are blessed with such powers. The McFarland’s update you on their New Years. Packaging of materials kicks the show off. Matt chats about Lego. Are humans able to see at night in any compara...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! And that's a wrap! The Growing Season closes the book on 2024 in their typical fashion.  Focusing on how horticulture and spirits intersect, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the herbals and aromatics that infuse your favourite seasonal drinks. New Years Resolutions are highlighted.  The McFarlands outline what they'd like to see for the...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! The penultimate episode of The Growing Season for 2024 is a festive offering of wonder... Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland steer their sights on the visitors that accompany the Christmas Season into your home. Matt tees the show off by highlighting the career of a member of the cast of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  How do you pet proof your house d...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its the most wonderful time of the year. The holidays are in full swing on The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland get into the heavy hitters of the Christmas Season.  Poinsettia's kick off the proceedings.  Do they flower?   Where do they grow naturally?   How do you initiate the colour change?  Matt details his adventures in witnessing...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Baby, it's cold outside... Matt has packed up the job site tools for the season and is set to kick off the holiday fare for 2024. "How would we, as humanity, survive during an ice age?" It's the question that The McFarlands ask to tee off this week's episode of The Growing Season.  What would you be willing to give up in an effort...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! How do horticultural organisms handle the extreme’s of nature?  The Growing Season pulls the curtains back on the amazing abilities of the plants in your gardens. Lightning kicks the show off. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the ins and outs of lightning and how it’s managed on your property. How many people die per year as a result of interactions...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Do skunks hibernate?  What about doves? The McFarland's discuss the winter survival tactics employed by many a creature on this week's episode of The Growing Season. Jack, Lynne and Matt kick the show off by chatting about how to insulate your home for the winter months.  Are you prepared for winter?   The trio tell you how to get there. What ar...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its time for a visit from The Sandman... The McFarland's steer The Growing Season into the final days of outdoor horticultural adventures for 2024. Its time to put your flower beds to...bed. Is this time of year the best time to get involved in Landscape Design?   Yes.  Jack and Matt tell you why.  Matt tells a Seinfeld story. How do you store your f...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Feeling sleepy?    Well, its that time of year.    Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss putting your gardens to bed on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  As they do every year, The McFarlands highlight some innovative ways to prep your horticultural spaces for the long sleep.  Jack and Lynne have dealt with mouse issues recently.  Matt dis...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Inspired by a recent job, The Growing Season dives into the ins and outs of "Courtyard Gardens." What exactly is a Courtyard Garden?   What is the difference between a courtyard and a patio?   Are there similarities?  The history of the courtyard its highlighted and Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into their experiences with such spaces. Wha...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its the spookiest time of the year! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the horticultural aspects of Halloween.  The history of the holiday, where it originated and why its still celebrated today kick the show off. Pumpkins, beets and turnips have been used a jack-o-lanterns throughout the course of history.  A character named "Stingy Jack"...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Stay frosty… Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the cold, hard facts about frost and it’s relation to the plants in your garden. The Growing Season gets chilly. What exactly is frost? The trio explain. Does frost affect leaf drop on your deciduous plants? High frost vs. low frost - the battle rages on. Thickly leaved plants seem to tolerate frost. L...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its a tough time of year to be a turkey!  BUT, its a wonderful time of year to be a tree! Thanksgiving in Canada features prominently on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the history of Thanksgiving and why it is celebrated at different times in the Great White North. Matt talks about the challenges...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! This episode of The Growing Season is brought to you from the bottom of a hole filled with fall bulbs.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide this week's show into a colourful cornucopia of mums and bulbs.  Chrysanthemums - the all-stars of this time of year but Matt argues that Asters are Asterlutely better.  Listen in to find out why. Are the planti...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! It’s that time of year again. The Growing Season celebrates 5 years on the airwaves by highlighting what they’ve learned over the last year in horticulture. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the weather. Rain, rain, rain and more rain kick off the show. The GTA set records for precipitation this past summer so it’s fitting that precipitation is where...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Cottage season is drawing to a close, with many of us lamenting it’s exit. BUT, that doesn’t mean we can’t squeeze the few final drops of cottaging into this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland do an about face from last week’s affairs and dove into the colourful chaos of Country Cottage Gardens on this week’s episode of T...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! What in the Foo Dog is going on? Things get serene on this week’s episode of The Growing Season when The McFarland’s focus on Japanese Gardens. Jack, Lynne and Matt compare and contrast Japanese Gardens with Modern Gardens. You’d be surprised how much they have in common. What are the elements that make up a Japanese Garden? Statuary, evergreens, maples,...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Are you sneezing with bloodshot eyes and a swollen mess?  Yup. It’s that time of year. Seasonal allergies running rampant ruining your routine regularly. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss all things pollen on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Jack and Lynne discuss the absolute monster of a bald faced hornets nest that has appeared in one of...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! We’ll that’s a laborious undertaking. Horticultural construction can be a tiring but rewarding endeavour. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland celebrate Labour Day by discussing some of the ways they make professional horticulture easier. Jack discusses the differences between how a jobsite was run in the 1970’s compared to now. Matt dives deep into how he make...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! The days are getting shorter.  The nights are getting cooler. Its August, but that doesn't mean that the growing season is over. Speaking of The Growing Season, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland touch on the all stars of August on this week's show. BUT FIRST:  We have officially survived the rainiest summer on record in the GTA.  Yeah. It’s been th...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! We’re seeing red!  The TGS Colour Series continues its colourful journey on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland highlight all things red and horticultural. Roses feature prominently to the surprise of no one. Matt discusses some of the rules he’s set up for himself with regards to roses. There are supposedly “indestru...