The Growing Season

At the time of recording the Greater Toronto Area has received a summer's worth of rain in just 4 weeks.
Less than one month into summer and the many of us have seen as much or more rain than we usually get in 3 full months.
Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland discuss the absolutely insane amount of precipitation we've seen this year.
French drains, dry wells and all manners of flood mitigation methods are discussed. Why are there more flood incidents recently?
Matt discusses a bylaw that he feels should be passed. It will effect your backyard plans. How does this dovetail into a potential hwy 413 build?
The cost of food will rise due to all this rain. Why?
As far as plant materials, are there any that will take a "standing water" situation and even thrive in such a locale?
Astilbe, ferns, black eyed susie, alder, willow, birch, phlox, rose mallow, dogwood and winter berry are just some of the plants discussed this week.
Patio construction with drainage in mind is discussed. How does the degree of slope effect water drainage? Matt plays "Imagine If You Will."
Rain gardens and how to build them become a 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.

Cue "Holiday Road" by Lindsay Buckingham... You know the song - from the Vacation Movies.
I found out long ago
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's a long way down the Holiday Road
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Holiday Road...
Holiday Road....

BUT THEN DISASTER STRIKES!
Mosquitos, wasps, hornets, ants, flys, poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak are just some of the things that can ruin a rendezvous with Christie Brinkley in her Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole (WHAT. A. CAR!).
Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland break down the horticultural hazards that can make your vacay go sideways on this week's episode of The Growing Season.
Jack McFarland has completed his course of radiation and updates the listeners on his health.
Spiders...AHHHHH. Why are they necessary?
How to rid yourself of wasps and mosquitos can be easy if you know what to do. The trio outline the steps you need to take.
Can your pets get poison ivy AND can a human develop a tolerance to it?
The most deadly insect? You'd be surprised to learn...
Do flys pollinate and what exactly is purpose of an ant?
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.

Its a tough time of year to be a turkey! BUT, its a wonderful time of year to be a tree!
Thanksgiving in Canada features prominently on this week's episode of The Growing Season.
Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the history of Thanksgiving and why it is celebrated at different times in the Great White North.
Matt talks about the challenges of dressing his kids this time of year. Jack reminisces about this time last year.
Turkey families...How are the chicks parented?
Cranberries - why is the bog harvesting procedure necessary?
As they do on an annual basis, The McFarlands describe the processes involved with the trees leaves changing colour. Why is it that the fall colour appears at the top of the tree first and then proceeds downwards?
Fog and grass seed are linked.
The FALL-stars as far as fall leaf colour are discussed.
Poplar, Linden, Red Maple, Burning Bush, Downey Serviceberry, Blueberries, Mountainash and many more horticultural organisms are a focus.
Birds eating fermented berries and becoming intoxicated! Yup, you heard that right!
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.

Stay frosty...
Jack, Lynne and Matt McFarland dive into the cold, hard facts about frost and it’s relation to the plants in your garden.
The Growing Season gets chilly.
What exactly is frost? The trio explain.
Does frost affect leaf drop on your deciduous plants?
High frost vs. low frost - the battle rages on.
Thickly leaved plants seem to tolerate frost. Ligularia, sedums and various hostas are known to be frost tolerant.
A simple sprinkler system might be the thing to delay frost damage. Mowing your lawn and frost. Is there a danger to your lawn if you’re mowing a frosty lawn?
Sheets and blankets are also used to protect against frost.
Bark thickness and cold temperatures is discussed. Specifically fruit trees.
Does frost affect plants that are blooming? Does frost affect blooms in similar ways to leaves?
Matt outlines how deciduous trees drop leaves.
Fall bulbs, garlic and winter wheat become a focus with relation to frost.
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.

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 develops.
Jack and Matt discuss deer damage on trees and shrubs and how to prevent or mitigate the amount of damage that deers can cause.
Dogwood, birch, ash, maples and many more species are discussed with respect to their winter attributes.
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.