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“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat!

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! 7 years on the air!   WOW, that's an achievement.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland celebrate The Growing Season's 7 year anniversary on this week's episode.  The trio highlight what they've learned over the last year.   Plant materials, College pursuits and the "aggregation of marginal gains" are discussed.  An evolution of McFarland Park in described.  For once, it wasn't Jack that kicked off another landscape project. An upper patio and a lower patio now exist.   Lynne has noticed A TON of pollinators this season?   Didn't she say that last year?   There is a debate. The monarchs have left and Hwy 407 celebrated their journey.  What is a sandhill crane? Birds and their migratory patterns fill out the first half of the show.  Why are mice more prevalent at this time of the year?  What is a "Junko?" How do you properly store your birdseed?   The Sopranos offers a solution.  MATT HATES BIRD FEEDERS!   JACK HATES BIRD POOP! Purple Martin apartments create a conversation. Media has done the bat no favours.  Are bats dangerous to humans?   Why are the bat myths prevalent?  Echolocation is discussed.  Bats are prone to specific fungus.  Why?  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Get the bells out cuz we're going Coral this week! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland roll around in the foliage on this week's episode of The Growing Season.  The completion of a recent job was the impetus for an exploration of one of the finest shade plants on the market. What light environment do Coral Bells thrive in?   There are myths that they need full shade.  The McFarlands explore.  Jack highlights the original purple Coral Bells and how they swept the market in the early 80's.  How would one propagate a Coral Bell?   Cinnamon is involved.   We're not lying.  Why can't you propagate by seed? The other famous shade plants are compared and contrasted to Coral Bells. Hostas, Hydrangeas and Foam Flowers are highlighted.  Potassium and Coral Bells!?   How do they correlate? Why is Canada such a large producer of Potash? Jack has recently discovered a fondness for Sage.   He's now a fan! Heuchera are a great plant to remove the "piano legs" from leggy plants.  Jack details the practice.  Blackout Coral Bells.   What are they?  Berry Smoothy, Glitter, Caramel and Lime Marmalade are just some of the Coral Bells that find their way onto the airwaves.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! In what is a first for The McFarlands, Stonecrop or sedum take centre stage.  They’re blooming right now and man, they are beautiful.  Jack discusses the longest job he’s ever been on.  An update on the weather expected for Fall 2026 is outlined. Get ready for an extended fall season.  Cherry Truffle sedum gets the gush treatment.  You'll want to Google this plant.  A burgundy flower bed?  Yes please! The biology of sedum and how they relate to cacti is explored.  Are hens and chicks related to sedum?   Kinda. Floppy stems?   Yeah, its a sedum problem.   How do you prevent it? Sedum companion plants are explored and there are TON that look great with stonecrop. Birds and ragweed correlate? Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! LETS GET SAUCY! Garage doors have been opening on Matt's street and there have been tomatoes being processed at high rates over the last couple of weekends.  "A Super El-Nino" kicks the show off.  WHAT IS IT? The tomato is related to A TON of plants.   You'll be surprised to learn who their cousins are. The early Europeans thought that tomatoes where poisonous.  Why? Matt talks about cast iron.  Jack discusses tomato blight.   Are you supposed to take the foam off the boiling tomatoes when you make sauce.   A debate ensues. Lynne details the sauce making process. Terroir!   Google that. Botulism - GOOGLE THAT! APPLES, APPLES, APPLES feature on the second half of the show.  Why does apple sauce a light yellow look to it?   What makes it light coloured? The original apple trees came from where?   You'll be surprised to learn... What's your favourite apple?   The McFarlands detail theirs.  Apple leather and the usage of apple skin in textiles if discussed before Lynne offers an applesauce recipe.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! So lets get to the root of the issue. On this week's episode of The Growing Season, Jack, Lynne and McFarland use a recent build as a jumping off point for 54 minutes of talk. Matt recently built a water feature around a Silver Maple and the tree fought the build the entire way.   So much so that Matt has sworn off Silver Maples forever.   The trio discuss. The summer is also over and The McFarland's school routine is changing.  The list of aggressive root offenders is highlighted.  In fact, some trees can sense the movement of water and move towards it.  The link between clay and water movement is discussed.   Which trees have a taproot?   Which trees have a fibrous root system? Coastal trees and how they deal with water becomes and interesting plant ID lesson. What about shrubs?   Any NASTY root shrubbers? What is chlorosis?   The trio define it.   Is a Silver Maple root system able to push over a pre-cast landscape wall?   Matt details his experiences.  Pat McFarland, brother of Jack, had a root-mergency.   Jack discusses regals the listeners with the story. How do you plant a tree in a wire basket?   Lets examine.   Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Pie-see-you!   Actually, that would be "Pica-you..."   In latin, Picea is the word for spruce and it just happens to be the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all things spruce and the show kicks off in style, highlighting the "Baby Blue Eyes" spruce - the Ferrari of spruces.  It's everything that you would want in a spruce.  The trio discover that the Baby Blue Eyes has been around for longer than they think.  The Colorado Blue Spruce and The Japanese Maple are the plants that EVERY client wants on their site.  What is a Koster Blue Spruce?   What is a Moerheim Spruce?   What is a Hoopsii Blue Spruce? That's a lot of spruce. How big is your property?  Can it accommodate a spruce?  Matt talks about Muscle Cars. They also talk about Sugar Maples. The oldest spruce resides in Sweden and its not a good looking spruce by any means.  Google "Old Tjikko." Can you grow a Spruce in a container? What about planting procedures with regards to spruce?  Is there a specific way of planting them?  Many spruce needles are almost square - 4 sided even.  What is "Needlecast?" Are there any "Needlecast" resistant spruce?  What is a Norway Spruce? SPRUCE WANT SUN!    LOTS OF SUNNNN!!!! What is a Serbian Spruce.   Unique would be a great descriptor... Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Does having Hostas in your garden “devalue” its aesthetic?  Some of Matt McFarland’s clients think so.  Hostas get their time in the shade on this week’s episode of The Growing Season.  A ditch in Jack and Lynne McFarland’s neighbourhood kicks the show off. It’s an interesting conversation.  Bylaws, bees and blowing wind feature prominently.  “Hostas are the queen of the shade”. Slugs lurk in the shadows and are the main enemy of the hosta.  Slugs are also booze hounds. What!? Toads are terminators.  How should you water Hostas? What is “windowing?” How would one window in a garden? Lynne details her intensive watering routine. Her water bill is going to be high.  Empress Wu, Sum and Substance Bressingham Blue and Mouse Ears are discussion points with regards to Hosta varieties.   The original name for Hostas was Funkia. Who calls them that!?  It sounds like a 1970's trio. An "astilbe" area finds it way into a show about Hostas.  Trust us - it correlates.  Wiggle the split and you get a ground cover - that's it.  The Touch Of Class Hosta is GUSHED about.  What is "sporting" in horticulture?  The Red Ninja Hosta sounds DANGEROUS!  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Time waits for no one! Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland take an adventure on Gardening For The Ages on this week's episode of The Growing Season. How do the McFarlands design with an age group in mind?   Are there differences with how they design for the younger crowd as opposed to an older clientele.  The designers explain.  Matt rants.  He gets angry. What is Monkshood?   Its really poisonous and can kill a small child. Belladonna is discussed.  Bird baths are also discussed and Matt is grossed out by them.  Risers on steps, paving choices and many more design elements are correlated with the ages of their users.  What is playground mulch?   How do you design in such a way that allows a young human to interact with bees without getting stung? Grass!   But its other meaning. The Venus Fly Trap is a wonderful way to introduce young people to plants.  Does having extensive gardens narrow the market for those looking to buy said house?  The top 5 gardens styles for adults are discussed.  Why are boxwoods STILL being used?   STILL!!!  Matt discusses wooden planters.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Yippie Kai Yay Mother Phloxer!  Thanks to Bruce Willis' Die Hard for the opening of this week's episode of The Growing Season.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all things Phlox on the second show of August 2026.  Speaking of August - Summer is chugging along! Fall clothing and back to school advertising abounds.   Matt tells a story about a wonderful Canadian small business success story.  Bindweed has been a HUGE problem this year.  The trio discuss its insurgence.  River pebbles are a MAINTENANCE nightmare.    "Honeydew," with regards to insects, is all about poop.  Plant phlox to attract hornets and wasps and they'll do the pest control for you.  Seriously.   Phlox are native to North America.  In fact, they are a Canadian export.  You gotta do a whole lot wrong to have a birch fail to thrive... White Eyes Flame Series Phlox seem to grow to unimaginable heights on The McFarland's property.  Phlox need air circulation.  FULL STOP. Don't plant phlox anywhere near Bee Balm.  Phlox do not like coffee or tea grounds as a soil amendment.   Companion plants for phlox?  We gotchu covered.  Matt highlights how to bloom bomb using astilbe - a plant noted for short bloom times.  Jack bonked Lynne over the head on their first prehistoric date... Franz Schubert...Matt gushes. What's the difference between a Cottage Garden and a Country Cottage Garden? Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! You're no daisy at all! Doc Holiday's famous line from "Tombstone" is the jumping off point for this week's show. Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland turn The Growing Season's focus to all things Daisy on this week's episode of the show.  Strange old sayings kick the show off.  "Its enough to stick in your eye..." WHAT? Daisies, asters and coneflowers are all related.  HOW?  Matt discusses IPM - integrated pest management and how he's teaching his class about such things.  LEUCANTHEMUM X SUPERBUM!!!  Lets giggle.  The trio discuss nitrogen fixing plants.  Its a remarkable little ability.  Are there blue daisies?   Why isn't this colour more prominent in flowers?  Bees and daisies are highlighted. What is a "Country Cottage Garden?" TEA-RANNOSAURUS REX!!! Daisies were in use in gardens 4200 years ago.  You read that right.  The history of this little floral favourite unfolds.  Matt searches his tired mind for the name of a plant. He finally finds it.  The plant, not his mind.  Jack LOVES some of the new shrubs Matt is storing at his place.  The McFarlands cannot get butterfly bush to survive the winter.  Daisies are ranked by popularity. Speaking of popular, Jack prompts Matt to tell a story about a REALLY popular coneflower.  What is sneezeweed? Why is it called sneezeweed? Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its all about the Lily! This week's episode of The Growing Season dives, head first, into one of the most popular plant groups in your gardens. Whether they're Asiatic, Oriental or Daylilies, Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland highlight their wondrousness.   Matt gives an update on The McFarland's new kitten.  What is the difference between a Lily and a Daylily? The McFarland Query System makes its triumphant return.  How do you stretch out your lilies's bloom time? Matt discusses an upcoming heritage home design.  What are "window counterweights?"  The trio discuss plants that are misnamed.  Daylilies will thrive in any soil type.  What about light situation?  Jurassic Park references are always welcome. The science of extending bloom is discussed.  Daylilies allow you to design with texture.  Jack and Matt detail how.  What are "Children Of The Wind?"  A "Japaleaf Maple" is created.  Elegant Candy and Strawberry Candy Daylilies are AMAZING! Vibrant coloured and pastel coloured day lilies cap the show off.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Something smells....GOOD! That's right - the focus of this week's episode of The Growing Season is designing a garden with fragrance in mind.  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into all things smelly and they're not talking about Matt! Matt has a new member of the family and he explains the addition of the new addition.  Bill Reid roses kick the show off in style.  If you've never heard of these roses Google them immediately.  The difference in temperature between Algonquin Park and Bolton, Ontario is discussed.   Do women have a better sense of smell than men?  Fragrance and pollinators are linked.  How?   You'll be surprised to find out.  The trio's favourite smells are discussed.  HINT: look up Pinus mugo pumilo.  Roses, hydrangea, lilac, lavender, lemon grass, citronella and more are just some of the plants that get some air time on the show.  Moon gardens.  How would one go about creating one of these horticultural wonders.  Sweet William!   THEY SMELL GREAT!  Roses do not effectively repel mosquitos.  We did not know that.  Climbing hydrangea take a LONG TIME to get established.  LIKE, A LONG TIME!  Sam Neill is honoured.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! ITS ALL ABOUT THE LONGER GAME!  In part 2 of Long Bloomers, The McFarlands dive into the perennials and annuals that round out the group.  Its a fast paced, lengthly list that will have you inspired to design.  Matt gushes about his son getting his first pair of workbooks.  "What do you consider a long bloomer when it comes to perennials?" ROZANNE PERENNIAL GERANIUM!!!   Lets do it again. IT BLOOMS FOR 16 - 18 weeks.  You read that right! Dicentra formosa 'luxuriant.' AWESOME, just AWESOME.  Matt details his concerns with this long bloomer.  It's not a game changer but there is some caution necessary. This would be one of Tinkerbelle's favourite plants.  Lynne details Bleeding Heart varieties.  Phlox - the colours are to die for.  Jack highlights the awesomeness of these perennials. You have to see the "Sunset Coral Phlox" to believe it.  The City Garden Black Eyed Susie is amazing but really tough to get. What is a "spike garden?" Jack takes great delight in knocking Yarrow.  Why? He doesn't knock sedum and he's right not to! Corepsis is a really cool perennial.  You'll find out why.  Matt stopped using Lavender but he thinks that's about to change.  You'll hear the story.  The Adobe Orange Sombrero Coneflower works The McFarlands into a lather.   Clematis caps the show off. Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.

“Questions, concerns, queries?” Lets chat! Its all about the LONG GAME!  Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the trees and shrubs that bloom for an INSANELY long time on this week's episode of The Growing Season. How long is long for a tree to bloom?   You'd be surprised to learn.  Matt discusses how his students LOVE derailing him during lectures.  They love to rev him up and watch him go.  "There are more flowers than there are blades of grass" on the McFarland's property.   Mugho Pines, Emerald Gaety Euonymus and everything 1980's comes into the fore.  Rank these trees from 1 - 3: Royalty Crabapple, Crimson King Maple, Obelisk Beech.  Lynne takes the challenge.  Define an "annual..." Matt tries. Are Ivory Silk Lilac's long bloomers?   The trio debate.   What defines a "long bloomer" in a tree?  Weigela, weigela, weigela.... OHHHHH BABY! What is a Century Plant?  How about a Corpse Plant?  Greybeard returns... Temperature can effect the amount of time a tree blooms. Matt tells a story about some lovely flowering dogwood trees and the shock and awe of a specific variety.  "Is the juice worth the squeeze?" Lets hang out in the rose department for a little while.  Some are Oso Easy! Speaking of the 1980's - Potentilla is a classic that still pops. Why doesn't The Growing Season use Butterfly Bush?  Hydrangeas cap the show off in style.  Tune in.  Looking to book a consult for your property?   We'd love to help.  CLICK HERE.