The Growing Season

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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 conversation piece for The Growing Season.

Matt reminisces about his experience snow tubing with the kids.  IT WAS AWESOME.

Jack discusses the difference in the price of fuel 50 years ago.   You might not want to know!

Harlequin Maples and why they are no longer used is discussed.  The Ash is no longer used as a street tree and its such a shame as its a glorious organism.  

Leaf miner and birch borer are the reasons we don't use many birch these days.   That's also a shame.  

Hybridizing of large trees into smaller varieties is highlighted.  

What evergreen uprights were popular 50 years ago?   Why have we changed our selections?  

Pruning a Mountbatten Juniper is discussed and Matt openly wonders why they've stopped using Weeping Peashrub.

The Purpleleaf sands cherry is a timestamp.  Matt explains why. 

Tune in.

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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?   Did those in power learn anything from Austrialia's fires that could have been used in California's emergency?  

Jack describes "controlled burns..."

Would the salt water that laps the beaches of Los Angeles be suitable to put the fires out? 

Winds have come into focus as an accelerant that is only complicating issues in California.   The McFarland's correlate quickly moving air and fire. 

Remove the oxygen and that will put the fire out!   Am I right!?

Fencing options for areas that are prone to forest and wild fires are discussed. 

The types of conifers that tend to be "fire proof" are highlighted. 

Fireproofing your home comes into focus. 

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.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

“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 more.

Matt discusses his snow filled adventures this winter.   "Streamers" have become a common term being used to describe snow events.  Are there more streamers happening in our current climate change filled landscape?

Outdoor skating is being impacted due to climate.  The trio explain how.

Jack focuses on human fluid transference and derails a WHOLE segment. 

What is a GoGirl?   Matt follows this topic down the rabbit hole.

The Ice Road and the trucks that transport goods across it come into focus. 

The cost of produce and dry winters are correlated.  Want a snowless winter?  Be prepared to pay more at the grocery store.

How would lack of winter effect birds and insects?  You'd be surprised to learn the myriad of interesting ways less winter would effect the former and latter. 

Warmer climate = MORE TICKS!   Uh-oh.

Jack links the spongy moth invasion and climate change...

Cold weather has a surprising effect on human blood pressure.

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.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

“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 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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

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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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

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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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

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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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

“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 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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

“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 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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.

“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 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.

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

What is a TGS Tiny Garden? CLICK HERE.

Subscribe to The Growing Season podcast.  CLICK HERE.