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...

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 learn why the poppies thrived in a war-time environment. What is the most dangerous thing found in a pile of leaves?    Cars setting leaves on fire? ...

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 benefits of gypsum?  Can you use it in the fall? The composition of triple mix topsoil is discussed and how it relates to all those leaves your...

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 between poison and toxic?  The trio uncover the answers. Loco-weed, belladonna, yews, elderberry, mountain ash berries  and many others...

"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 conversation. Hawthorn, Mountain Ash, Witch Hazel, Contorted Hazel, Pieris Japonica, Viburnum and Fothergilla are just some of the plants discussed.  Sweetspire!  ...

"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 McFarland explain the science behind fall colour.  Red Maples, Sugar Maples, Red Oaks, Gingko, Black Tupelo, Sumac, Tiger Eyes Sumac, Poplar, Birch and Aspen are...

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 profound ways.   Are you planting fall bulbs for spring emergence? The McFarlands talk about the proper planting of fall bulbs and the many ...

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 the most bizarre plants available. How can you tell if a plant is poisonous?  There are some simple tricks. We’ll fin you in.  In typical Growing...

"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 episode of The Growing Season,  the McFarland's guide you through the ins and outs of "Overs,"  as in over-watering, over-pruning, over-fertilizing and...

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 are recommended for a corner lot?  What are the special circumstances that make this type of property unique? Salt tolerance, urban...

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 the plant materials that are discussed in the 54 minutes that Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland spend chatting. Why is the fall colour coming so...

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 the ins and outs and reveal some of the industry tips and tricks from their 100+ years in the horticultural field. River pebbles....

Orange you glad you tuned in? We know, it’s an eye-rollingly terrible joke BUT it’s super topical. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the colour orange in horticultural terms on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Coneflower, quince, nasturtium, day lilies and some of the most gorgeous azaleas around are a fraction of the plant materials discussed. Potentilla has been given a name change and Matt rants about it. The McFarland’s highlight the orange variety as well as its...

It’s all about the style!  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland set sail on a new series for The Growing Season, entitled “Being Stylish.” Focusing on various styles of landscape design and and install  the first entry out of the gate discusses modern landscape design. What makes a design modern?  How do you achieve the sleek lines, minimalist features and make it look cohesive?  Don’t fret, The McFarlands have you covered. Plant selection, tree selection and paving ideas, this week’s...

Soooo...uhhhh... what if it doesn't flower?  Is there another option that can provide colour and interest that isn't flower based? Ohhhh yeah.    Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about spots, stripes and variegation and how you can use plants that feature these to dress up your garden.  Harlequin maple, caladium, coleus, hosta, lung wort, birch, dogwood and many more are used to help insert interest into your garden.  Variegated weigela is fawned over. Tibetan cherry.   Have you ever...

Why not get Jurassic Park with it? Hostas - some of the most unique and prehistoric looking plants are front and centre in this week's episode of The Growing Season.   Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the ins and outs of one of the most versatile plants you can incorporate into your landscape.  Do you have the dreaded "shade/drought" scenario?   No matter, we have a solution. Halcyon, June, Captain Kirk, Mouse Ears, Touch of Class and many more Hosta varieties are discussed in...

NOT THESE BUGS AGAIN! The McFarlands guide The Growing Season into another entry of their BUGSENSE series.  This week Jack, Matt and Lynne chat about the critters that BUG you when you're out in the garden. Japanese beetles and mosquitoes are the focus this week. On the first half of the show the trio chat about how to deter mosquitos naturally, when they are the most active and what exactly are they doing here, on earth? The second half features a discussion on this years big, buggy...

"I'm sorry Kate, but there are going to be times in your garden where green is going to be the only colour..." Why?   Why does this have to be the way that it is?  Kate! Get a second opinion. Jack, Lynne and Matt discuss long blooming plants and how to bloom phase so that your garden is colourful from March to early November.  It's possible and The Growing Season tells you how to do it. Sedum, tickseed, phlox, weigela, rose of sharon and the legendary potentilla are all spotlighted in...

Schools out for the summer!  How do you tend to those lovely gardens when you’re at the cottage?  What do you plant at the cottage when you’re only there infrequently?  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the ins and outs of keeping your gardens looking wonderful whilst you’re away. So, you don’t own a cottage. No problem, the trio chat about the plants that can withstand stretches without water and the heat that accompanies July and August. Veronica, Spirea, Viburnum, Yarrow,...

You sunk my Battleship! Well, in this case, you planted it. The sister program to our Aircraft Carriers show, Battleships chats about large evergreen trees - the ones the size of a Battleship. Pine, Spruce, Fir, Redwood, Cedar and much more are discussed at length as Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland guide you through the do's and dont's of selecting a massive conifer. White pines around pools - we'll tell you why you shouldn't plant one around a pool.  We found out the hard way.    Pruning...

STOP!  That’s what many of us think when we see the colour red. In fact, that’s precisely what the colour does in your gardens. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the wonders of the colour red on this week’s episode of The Growing Season. Highlighting the latest entry into the  Colour Series are Cardinal Flowers, Roses, Horsechesnut, Coneflower, Delphinium (YES, delphinium!), Phlox and many more. What creates the red colour in red coloured flowers?  Are pollinators attracted to...

Take an aircraft carrier and stand it up, end to end, on your property.  That's what we're chatting about.  AIRCRAFT CARRIER sized leafers.  BIG, BIIIGGG TREES! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland chat about the sights they've seen on jobsites  with regards to monstrous trees planted in the wrong places. What should you plant if you have the property and space to do so?  The trio offer some trees to consider and some to avoid at all costs.  Maples, Oaks, Tulip Trees, Beech, Birch and London...

It’s that time of year!  Flowers in bloom, birds chirping and speeches from your aunt Trudy about how you covered yourself in peanut butter and rolled around on her white couches as a kid. IT’S WEDDING SEASON! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss how horticulture intersects with weddings during the most popular month to tie the knot. Roses, Lily of the valley, carnations, ferns, even dandelions get some love in the plant department. How can you extend the life of your bouquet? How...