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 comparable manner to our mammalian counterparts? 

Biologically, how does night vision work?

The darkened sight of cats is explored.

Moose, rabbits, picas, horses, foxes and wolves are discussed.

What is “moonwater?”

Of course bats and owls deserve their fair share of time in the spotlight.

What are the differences between sonar, radar and echolocation? 

Mice and moths come into focus.

The correlation between UV light and WWII is surprising.

Tune in.

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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 upcoming year.

The differences between seasoning and spices?   What are said differences?

Infusion and maceration are discussed.  Soaking of herbals in alcohol to infuse flavours.   Sounds heavenly.   Lets explain how its done. 

What are hops and why are they used in beer?   How did this come to be?

Gin is a prominent topic of discourse. In fact, a live tasting of gin is undertaken on the show.  Jack and Lynne try a gin and tonic for the first time.

Aromatic bitters and their usage in cocktails is explained. 

Matt gushes about gin.   And gushes and gushes...

Wine, Champagne, whiskey, vodka are just some of the spirits that are chatted about. 

New school vs. old school wine making is highlighted. 

Tune in.

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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 during the Christmas Season?   Are there ways of keeping your cat from drinking from the Christmas Tree reservoir?

How do you properly prep your tree to accept water?

Amaryllis, Christmas Trees, Candy Canes, bowls of golf balls and many more holiday favourites are discussed. 

Santa and Coca Cola are linked in history.  The McFarlands explain how.

Poinsettias and their presence as part of the holiday season is a topic of interest. Lumps of coal and road apples... Yup, you read that right.

Jack tells a story about a Christmas Tree heist.

Hans Gruber's great, great, great Grandfather was a famous composer.  Matt tells a Die Hard story...

Pet rocks!?   WHAT?

Christmas gifts from the past are discussed. 

Tune in.

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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 the change in colour on Christmas's most popular potted plant.  Can you initiate the colour change at home?   

Choosing a poinsettia at the store comes into focus. 

Christmas cacti are a prominent topic. Their care and watering needs are highlighted by The McFarland trio.

Why is mistletoe associated with Christmas and kissing?  This parasitic plant is really interesting. 

Real Christmas Trees and their shedding tendencies fill the second half of the show.

The pros and cons of artificial trees vs. real trees comes into focus.

How to set yourself up for success with your real Christmas Tree is discussed.

Christmas flocking.   Yeah...lets do some of that!

Tune in.

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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 to preserve what's left of our climate?   Hard questions abound...

How are people overcoming extreme cold to participate in horticultural adventures?   Matt, Jack and Lynne discuss. 

The odds of an ice age occurring soonish is slim. The McFarlands take a geographical adventure to discuss what areas of the world would fare best in the event of an ice age.

The world produces 150% more food than we need on a daily basis.  Why?

"Human emissions" as a fuel source?   Would it work?   Matt details how.

The size of vegetable garden for a family of 4 is discussed.   You'd be surprised to learn how big the garden needs to be to supply a family with produce for the season. 

Terra cotta pots as a heat source.

What plants can grow is insanely cold climates.  You'll find out.

Tune in.

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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 with lightning?

You’ve seen a tree growing through a chain link fence. How does the tree survive?  The McFarland’s explain. 

Salt. Uh oh.

Not salt on your food but salt on your plants. How do plants deal with a salty environment? 

Are there plants available that are salt tolerant.  The McFarlands bring a list with them. 

Wind can be problematic for plants. The Growing Season trio explain the ins and outs of something called “reaction wood” and how it ties into wind.

Which large trees handle high wind environments the best?  You’ll be surprised to learn.

Forest fires and controlled burns are discussed. The Coastal Redwood comes into focus.

Tune in.

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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 are goosebumps?   Why do they occur?

Jack plays "Imagine If You Will..."

What do deer eat in the winter?   Where do they over winter?   Do they have a den?

Rabbits eat their WHAT....   You'll be surprised to know.

Why do some birds fly south and some don't?  It's a "follow the food" procedure and you'll find out why.

Coyotes, wolves and other canids are discussed.  Snails overwinter.   Its disgusting how they do it.  Strap in!  Bees, bees and more bees. 

Tune in.

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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 fall flowering bulbs for the winter?   The McFarlands tell you how.  Should you be cutting your perennials back in the fall?   If so, which ones and why?

Hydrangeas come into focus by way of The Clematis.  Group 1, 2 and three clematis are discussed.

Fall fertilizing is discussed.  Planting at this time of year is discussed.  The pros and cons of undertaking such an endeavour are discussed.

Staking/burlapping your sensitive shrubs is discussed.

The McFarlands discuss the steps necessary to put your water feature to bed.

Tune in.

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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 discusses the ways he helps clients to safe guard against mouse invasion.  The least you need to know?   Your AC and Furnace might be the cause of all the mice you're finding in your home.

Installing Christmas lights comes into focus.  Why do this now?  The trio explain.

Should you fertilize at this time of year. Jack outlines what fertilizers should be used during the month of November.

Leaves falling from trees and the trees that fall late and early becomes a discussion.  What to do with leaves that have blight or fungal infections...

Can't you just leave your leaves on the lawn and refrain from raking them up?   What does that do to the lawn?

"Heeling up is discussed." 

Tune in.

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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.

What plants are appropriate OR on-style for courtyard locations.  With sun and shade being considerations the trio dive into recommendations. 

With the garden being surrounded by walls how do you deal with the heat emanating from vertical barriers? 

Hardsape materials come into focus.  Are there drawbacks to specific paving materials.  Matt talks about paving design.

The impact of a small amount of grass becomes a topic of conversation.

Accent plants and unique trees creates moments of gush in The McFarlands.

Espaliers and courtyards have become synonymous.  Haven't heard of an espalier?   Lets change that.

Vines, vines and more vines...  Walls = vines!

Courtyard furniture selection and patio size are highlights. 

Tune in.

Looking to book a consult for your property?  We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

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