EPISODE #305: “The Native PLant Garden”
Two Biologists run a nursery, specializing exclusively on native plants from their region of Vancouver Island. They also work directly on numerous restoration and naturalizing projects each year, provide workshops and guidance for individuals and organizations, as well as contribute to citizen science. Their goals are to educate the public, engage their community, and celebrate the joy of nature as seen in native plants.
World Premiere: Monday, July 6, 2026 on VisionTV (9pm ET / 6pm PT).
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Biologists Kristen & James Miskelly met on a restoration project, and fell in love. Soon after, they opened a native plant nursery, specializing exclusively on native plants from their region of Vancouver Island. They also work directly on multiple restoration and naturalizing projects each year, provide workshops and guidance for individuals and organizations, as well as contribute to citizen science. They work with private clients, governments, municipalities, First Nations, and non-profit organizations to bring native plants, along with related insects and pollinators, back to the region.
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“Native plants as a foundation to local ecosystems. Being able to grow and share those plants is a very tangible way to contribute to meaningful work.” - Kristen Miskelly
“It's amazing how small of an area of habitat can like actually accomplish something.” - James Miskelly
EPISODE #304: “The Pure Joy of Gardening”
A renowned writer considers gardening one of “the great pleasures of life,” as it has provided her a career, continues to offer daily gratifications, and ultimately contentment. A garden designer finds fulfilment in both his own home garden, and those of his clients. His daily engagement with plants, connects him to a higher level of consciousness and happiness.
World Premiere: Monday, June 29, 2026 on VisionTV (9pm ET / 6pm PT).
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Legendary garden writer Marjorie Harris tries to find a solution to wind issues in her high-rise Toronto balcony garden. Meanwhile, she comes out of self-imposed retirement to rejuvenate one of University of Toronto’s architecturally oriented gardens, through more appropriate local plant choices. She proclaims she will never stop gardening, as it is one of “the greatest pleasures of life.”
Garden designer Paul Murphy turned his childhood love of plants into a career. 40 years on, he continues to find fulfilment gardening for himself and his clients creating unforgettable gardens. His gardens are defined by visually arresting plants, imposing topography, and precisely placed sculptures and art. He explains how his daily engagement in gardens, connects him to a higher level of consciousness and happiness.
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“My brain never ever stops editing gardens. I mean, I just wish I was the world's gardener and I could fix it all and make everything beautiful.” - Marjorie Harris
“And who knows, maybe at some point science will show us that plants are actually manipulating us too. We're not just manipulating them.” - Paul Murphy
EPISODE #303: “Growing Like No Other”
A horticulturist singlehandedly maintains a complex regenerative agricultural system and greenhouse. There she produces 35 varieties of citrus, as well as avocados, passionfruit, and other tree fruits. A conifer and rare plant collector has operated his dream nursery of unusual plants for over 45 years.
World Premiere: Monday, June 22, 2026 on VisionTV (9pm ET / 6pm PT).
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Jane Squier singlehandedly maintains a complex regenerative agricultural system and greenhouse on Salt Spring Island. The key to her success is the biology of the soil. One tool to that end, is an anaerobic digester machine that captures methane from waste material, while creating a rich compost slurry. Elsewhere, a rainwater catchment acts as a thermal mass for heating the greenhouse, which contains 35 varieties of citrus, as well as avocados, passionfruit and other tree fruits.
Vineland Nurseries is nestled in the fruit and wine region of the Niagara Escarpment. It is an ideal growing climate that allows Jim Lounsbery, his other half Simone, and son Malcolm, to maintain the property’s thousands of unique conifers, Japanese Maples, and other rare and unusual plants.
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“A basic premise of regenerative agriculture, is just keep feeding the soil.” - Jane Squier
“We like to have all this stuff because we sell it, but we are also collectors.” - Jim Lounsbery
EPISODE #302: “Once a Gardener, Always a Gardener”
A retired couple have tended a 5-acre garden for decades. It features drifts of the rare meconopsis poppy, rhododendrons, and primula vulgaris—growing in a meadow larger than most people’s entire garden. A gardener’s lifetime of experience working in different regions culminates in a garden filled with international plants that testify to her credo “blooms every day.”
World Premiere: Monday, June 15, 2026 on VisionTV (9pm ET / 6pm PT).
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Retirees Dan Schwarz & Vel Rhodes grow and sell plants at their 5-acre Port Alberni property. They propagate everything themselves, including the rare meconopsis poppy, rhododendrons, a vast meadow of primula vulgaris, and countless other trees and perennials.
Carol Dancer has gardened in regions across Canada, from St. John’s to her current home in Victoria. She shares her years of knowledge as a long-time volunteer at many gardens in the area—where she also propagates plants for fundraising. Her home garden is filled with a collection of unique international plants that testify to her credo “blooms every day.”
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“It’s just kind of in us. Once a fisherman, always a fisherman. Once a gardener, always a gardener.” - Vel Rhodes
“My purpose when I started this garden was to have something in bloom every day of the year. There's that succession of blooming.” - Carol Dancer
EPISODE #301: “Garden Creativity”
An award-winning garden designer starts to think about retirement, but continues to cultivate her vast garden, which changes almost daily—year-round. A contemplative gardener downsizes from a large home garden to a collection of potted succulents. These in turn, inspire a series of visual art collages.
World Premiere: Monday, June 8, 2026 on VisionTV (9pm ET / 6pm PT).
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Retired schoolteacher and award-winning gardener Lily Maxwell of Victoria, contemplates a second retirement. Her glorious home garden overlooking the Salish Sea, is full of different colours, shapes, and textures, that change on a nearly daily basis, all year-round.
Barry Parker of Montreal, applies his artistry to his garden and his visual art collages, which relate to one another. Both arise from of his keen sense of observation. After downsizing from a larger house, his new balcony garden becomes movable containers, which he brings inside for the snowy Montreal winter.
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“You have to have a passion for it. It can't be just halfway there. I think you have to be almost obsessed.” - Lily Maxwell
“Curiosity and observation. Good gardeners tend to be extremely observant.” - Barry Parker
