The Growing Season

“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 system? 

Which profession gets the most action? You’ll be surprised to learn.

Onions, garlic, chocolate,  Spanish fly, nettles and ants are linked to arousal. Yes. Nettles.

Will honey get your honey in the mood. Yes. Listen in to find out how.

Bananas and pomegranate. Stock up.

Pansies, violas and morning glories are also known to start engines.

Tune in.

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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 Australia is discussed.

Is black pepper prehistoric?

Is it possible to bring prehistoric plants via cloning a la Jurassic Park. Let’s find out.

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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 snow and rain as a water source is discussed.  What about tap water?   How is that for the watering of plants?

Indoor plants and your pets becomes a topic.

Croton, Snake plant, Schefflera, Money Plant, Jade Plant, Spider Plants, Aloe Veras, Bamboo Plants and many more are discussed. 

Tune in.

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

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

What wood burns best?  What wood burns the worst and how do you properly season wood that will be fuel in the near future? 

Wood for furniture, interior and exterior construction is discussed.   What does that little SPF stamp that adorns construction lumber mean?  Why is it there?

The trio get wood!   Tune in.

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“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, 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 we survive in insane sub-zero temperatures?   Where would humans live? What about animals?  What would they do to survive?   

Energy sources, food sources and travel are all discussed. 

All is not lost though.  Oxygen would come from sources that you wouldn't think, even though the plants producing our current O2 would be frozen off.

Matt stumbles upon a new idea.  Uh-oh.  Vitamin D and where humans would acquire it become an interesting chat.

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“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 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?   There's a correlation with age.

Surprisingly bats don't appear much on this show as the trio intends to do a sequel later on in the year that will heavily discuss our winged friends.

Spiders, skunks, worms, cats, dogs, fish and more are discussed. 

Owls. Yup you know we had to go there.  What about Nighthawks?

Light and mice.  There's an interesting way to control mice using illumination. 

All that and more.

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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.   What, on the plant list, goes into the creation of beer.  How about mead? What is the difference between gin and vodka?

How do hops affect the flavour of your beer and how would one grow a votive of hops?

Matt discusses champagne and its history.  What is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine? 

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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 clove?

How do they celebrate in The Yukon?  What about Ireland? El Salvador, Caracas and Bolivia are explored. The Christmas Rooster is discussed, much to the bewilderment of Matt. 

Yule Lads, roller skates and opening your doors to unsavoury people are just some of the ways Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world. 

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

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"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 poinsettia forced to change colour?   Are botanists involved?

Succulents and their cousins are a hot topic.  Mistletoe is a bad, bad plant.  Its a parasitic nightmare of a organism. 

Strap in as The McFarlands discuss "flocking."

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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“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, Lynne and Matt McFarland dig into the topic.   It gets kinda heated.

Is there a better,  more sustainable option, when it comes to wrapping paper?   

What are the most popular real trees that are purchased at this time of the season?  You'll be surprised to know that the classics are still considered classic.

How do you properly set your real tree up?  There are some steps that the McFarlands guide you through that will help with real tree longevity.

The top 5 Real trees are run down.

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.