The Growing Season

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Knickers made of nettles?   Wouldn't that hurt? This week Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss how horticulture and textiles converge.  The Growing Season tackles the putting on of your plants, as in how textiles are created using plants in an effort to increase sustainability. Athletic supports, dresses, tops, bottoms, hand bags and many more garm...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Let’s gather around the Yohimbe tree and get frisky! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into all things planted and sexy on this week’s episode. In honour of Valentines Day the trio discuss the upcoming plants that put a tilt in your kilt. Is there any truth to the rumour of aphrodisiacs being a part of certain plants’ operating syste...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Life finds a way… Matt McFarland’s love of Jurassic Park takes centre stage on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Are there any prehistoric plants still around in present day?  You’ll be surprised to learn that the answer is resounding yes. A breakdown of the lifecycle of the Gingko tree is tasked on the trio. Trees the size of skyscrapers, bees c...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! At the time of recording, the Greater Toronto Area has seen 30 hours of clear skies, so far, this winter.  WHAT!?   Yeah.  Its been THAT dreary. With that, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into a chat about low light houseplants.  You can't get your gardening fix outdoors?  No matter, lets move things inside.  Are there any eas...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! It's cold out there.   Like really cold! In honour of the plummeting temps, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into a topic near and dear to the hearts of horticulturalists and contractors alike.  WOOD.  We burn it, we build with it, we depend on it for shelter and heat. Should we even be using wood as heat?   Is burning it a bad thing?  The differe...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! So....uhhhh.... what would happen if the sun went out.  For, like, ever.  The inaugural episode of what will become a series features a discussion on what would happen if the yellow orb in the sky turned its switches off.  This week's episode of The Growing Season finds The McFarlands venturing into an extreme version of "what if?" Jack, Ly...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Lets turn the lights out. On this week's episode of The Growing Season, The McFarland's kick off the New Year in style with a topic they've never covered.  Jack, Lynne and Matt dive into "Night Vision."  As in creatures that are either equipped with great nocturnal sight OR creatures that don't.  Where do you humans rank on t...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! And that's a wrap, ladies and gents.  The final episode of The Growing Season focuses on the horticultural aspects of the final party of the year. Beverages of all sorts are discussed.  Terroir and its effect on the taste of wine and coffee becomes a topic of interest for Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland. Does the mineral content of the rain in your ar...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! How to they celebrate Christmas in [INSERT PLACE HERE]? The McFarlands guide The Growing Season into international waters as they explore Christmas Around The World. Wreaths, garlands and their history are uncovered by Lynne McFarland.  Jack McFarland has an audio snafu and his family run with it.  Why is fruit cake so heavy and where did it come from?  ...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! "Lynne!!!  ARE YOU HOME?" Its the time of the year that visitors just drop by for a...well... visit. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss some of the runners up for most popular holiday fixtures on this week's episode of The Growing Season. The trio discuss the making of a Christmas urn to adorn your front door.  Its not as daunting as yo...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! The centrepiece of the Christmas Season becomes the centrepiece of this week's episode of The Growing Season. So... This topic tends to create a debate.  What is the better environmental option?  A real tree or a fake tree?  Is there still a place for the real Christmas Tree or is it time to use the artificial tree for environmental reasons.  Jack, L...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Yeah, but what about that fluffy rain?    With the holiday season in full swing, The Growing Season kicks of the season in style. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the hanging of Christmas Lights, Christmas  Movies and the songs that make the season.  The subject of snow is front and centre and The McFarland's discuss the shovelling of it and th...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Winter is just about here but The Growing Season asks the question: "Can you garden in areas like Antarctica, The Arctic, The North Pole and other sub-zero climates?" Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the plants that survive and thrive in environments that get way, way, wayyyy below zero. What do deserts and sub-zero environments have in...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Some birds and butterflies fly south but where do the other creatures go? This week's episode of The Growing Season dives into migration south and the staygration that many creatures employ to survive the sub-zero months. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about skunks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and many more of the critters that cohabitate wit...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Lets get ready for the long sleep one more time... In part 2 of this series The Growing Season jumps into a pile of leaves before they're blown into the flower beds for the off-season.  In honour of Remembrance Day Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss poppies and why they were so prominent in Flander's Fields.  You'll be surprised to lear...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Lets get ready for the long sleep! In part 1 of this series The Growing Season jumps into a pile of leaves before they're blown into the flower beds for the off-season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the how-to's of what to do to get your property prepped for the winter season. How do you prep your lawn for a long sleep?  What are the b...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Pumpkins, poison plants, grave digging and cows.  Wait... is this the wrong show? The Growing Season dives into all things halloween and how the spookiest time of the year intersects with horticulture. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about pumpkins and turnips and various other plants that can be carved into jack-o-lanterns. What is the difference bet...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! "AND ITS STILL ALL ABOUT THAT RAKE, 'BOUT THAT RAKE, NO SHOVEL!!!" In part 2 of their "Autumn's Beauty" series, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into more of the beauty that is autumn. Are dahlias perennials in Mexico?   Do they have a life expectancy when they are continually growing?   This sparks a c...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! "AND ITS ALL ABOUT THAT RAKE, 'BOUT THAT RAKE, NO SHOVEL!!!" It's autumn, the leaves are changing colour and falling from their lofty perches.  It happens every year and every year we marvel at its magnificence.  The Growing Season celebrates autumn and its horticultural goings on in part 1 of this series. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarlan...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! For us Canadians, the holiday season kicks off now... The Growing Season discusses Thanksgiving and its horticultural intersects on this week's episode of the show.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland breezily chat about the history of Thanksgiving and our indigenous people's efforts to not only aid the pilgrims but to affect our fall colour in prof...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! You're telling me they let these people occupy the airwaves for 4 WHOLE YEARS!? You know it! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about what they've learned over the last year and how that dovetails into what they've learned over the last 4 on air.  The trio discuss spring shrubs blooming in the fall, poppies and opium, scented plants and th...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! "What's wrong with my [FILL IN THE BLANK]?"  "I water it routinely, it’s fertilized on a six week cycle, I prune it religiously and it’s not thriving! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland hear this ALL. THE. TIME.  In fact, the correlation between over-caring for your plant materials and their failure to thrive is a strong one.   On this epi...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Is it a blessing? Is it a curse? It’s a…it’s a… corner lot! One of the most challenging properties to design and beautify is the dreaded corner lot. Visible on all sides, the corner lot has to be designed just-so to make it shine. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland corner you with advice that will make everyone, including your neighbours, happy. What plants a...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! THERE'S MORE??? The Growing Season dives into the plant materials that give you not ONE but TWO blooming cycles per season.  Let's get this straight - there are plants that will bloom more than once?    YUP.  In fact, there are many. Bloomerang Lilac, Sonic Bloom Weigela, Japanese Kerria, Daylilies, Yarrow and Black Eyed Susans are just some of...

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! That looks like a lot of labor! On this weeks episode of The Growing Season, the McFarland’s chat about the most labour intensive parts of both landscaping and gardening. What are some of their most hated tasks? Are there ways of mitigating the enormous amount of labour and pain associated with those tasks? Jack, Lynne, and Matt will take you through all...