Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland steer this week's episode of The Growing Season into all things Yellow. The Growing Season's Colour Series continues with a colour that tends to be a divisive topic amongst gardeners. Are you a fan of the colour yellow?   Do you dislike it?   If so, why? Many of the heavy hitters in a yellow variety feature:  Dandelions, witch hazel, forsythia, daylily, tickseed, black eyed susie. Matt detests forsythia and he explains why. The trio discuss the loveliness...

"Coming up we'll talk to you about edible herbs and how they can be considered 'sage advice!'"  [BA DUM CHING!] Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland celebrate Earth Day in style with a 54 minute discussion on plants that produce fruit, berries and nuts. EDIBLES - not marijuana, but plants that produce stuff that can be eaten... Apple trees, specifically espaliers, are highlighted.  Its a case of making lemons out of lemonade, so to speak. Blueberries, raspberries, currents, strawberries are...

Landscape design is in FULL SWING for The McFarlands. Jack, Lynne and Matt discuss the ins and outs of Landscape Design on The Growing Season.  Matt outlines how his business model works.  The differences between a landscape consult, design and install are discussed. Why do you, as a homeowner, need a landscape design?   Does the design make the landscape process easier for you?   The trio discuss.  The McFarlands chat about how a site meet with a potential contractor will go.  Its...

Its safe to finally prune your plants, people! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide The Growing Season into the heart of spring pruning and all of its related topics.  When can you prune?   If its been 10 degrees during the daytime over the course of 7 days you are good to go.  How do you transition plants from indoors to outdoors?   What about those hydrangeas that you received for easter?   Can those be transplanted?   How? Jack McFarland creates a sound bite for the ages.  "Your...

Bunnies, bulbs and bougainvillea!  We’ll, not the last one but it started with “B” so it fit. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland continue to celebrate spring on The Growing Season. McFarland Park is about to undergo an expansion. The trio detail the new elements to be installed. Jack and Lynne offer an update that may impact the show slightly over the next few months. We’d love your positive thoughts and energy. Onto horticulture!  Being that it’s Easter weekend why not focus on...

LET'S SPRING INTO...WELL...SPRING. Its here and, even though there is snow on the ground for much of the GTA, Spring is here. Jack, Lynne and Matt kick off the growing season in style.  What can you being doing in your flower beds RIGHT NOW?   Spoiler alert - NOTHING.  The trio explains. Sharpening shovels and landscape pruners come into focus.  What brand of pruners should you buy?  Matt gushes about FELCO's. How do you sharpen a shovel?   How often do you sharpen them?   What about...

Lets get down to some horticultural history. Gardens through time are the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season.  The Aztecs, The Myans, The Romans, The French, The Indians and The Japanese come into focus as some of the innovators in garden tech.  The French, in particular, have some sordid history intertwined with their horticulture. THEY HAD THEIR CAKE AND ATE AND ATE AND ATE! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland meander through the history books and uncover some of the most...

So you're looking to take a vacation.   Let The Growing Season guide you through a tropical destination The McFarland's have longed to visit.  FIJI. Let's travel to Fiji via the radio waves.  Jack, Lynne and Matt continue their "Destination Tropical" series into one of the most beautiful places on earth.  The flora, the fauna, the language, the food, the ins and outs of the Fijian culture are explored. What do they farm in Fiji?   You'll be surprised to know that its not exactly what...

We know, we know, you're ACHING to get out into your garden and start the wheels in motion.  Can you do ANYTHING in the garden right now?   How about pruning?  Is it too early to prune?   Many of us would like to get a head start on gardening activities so this week's topic dovetails perfectly. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the topic of dormancy pruning and why/when it can be done.  The various types of pruning are discussed and when they are to be used. New wood, old wood...

Soooo, how exactly does that dandelion grown AND THRIVE in the asphalt on the 401? Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss extremes and how horticultural organisms have adapted to exist in such environments.  Alpine areas, extreme cold, extreme heat, lack of oxygen and many locations come into focus on this episode of The Growing Season. How exactly do they grow plant materials on the space station?   What measures are taken to ensure success? The adaptations of plants growing in...

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 garments are all being made using materials like potato skins, pineapple parts and apples.  Can you get high if your hemp hoodie burns?   The...

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 system?  Which profession gets the most action? You’ll be surprised to learn. Onions, garlic, chocolate,  Spanish fly, nettles and ants...

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 changing size, and volcanic soil all fit into the McFarland’s trip into prehistoric plants. A group of super secret pines in...

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 easy tips to ensure vitality for indoor plants?  Are they easier or tougher to care for in comparison to their outdoor counterparts. Using...

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 differences between softwood and hardwood are discussed and the ins and outs of how each varieties functions is outlined.  What wood burns...

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, Lynne and Matt discuss the temperature on the surface of the earth if there was no sunlight.  Start to think about the implications of this. How would...

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 the ability to see at night list?  You'd be surprised to learn where we feature.  Further, do human children see better at night than their adult counterparts?  ...

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 area affect how your coffee will taste?  What about the micro particles that make up your soil?  Alcohol... You knew it was coming.  ...

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?   Matt asserts that you can build a house with fruit cake.  Spotted Richard, from the UK, is discussed.  CLOVES!   What its a...

"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 you'd think.  Also, is there a way of growing plant materials on your property to use in your urns?  DOGWOOD...spoiler alert...dogwood. How is a...

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, Lynne and Matt McFarland dig into the topic.   It gets kinda heated. Is there a better,  more sustainable option, when it comes to wrapping...

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 the health risks associated with such an activity.  Identical snowflakes?  Science fiction or fact?  How to prep your snowblower for the...

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 common?  More than you think. Arctic willow, sedges, grasses, potatoes, cabbage, garlic and a question about White Pines covers the bases for...

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 with us.  How long can a human survive buried underneath snow?   An interesting story emerges. A hilarious skit concerning a posse of rabbits...