May Nursery Celebrating 50 Years

Jennifer Zurko

May Nursery, a family-owned and operated business located in Havana, Florida, marks 50 years in the industry.

In 1971, Fount H. May, Sr. and Don F. May, Sr. completely converted the family's shade tobacco farm to a plant nursery. What they began was nurtured and increased by their sons Fount Jr., Don Jr., Fred and Brad over the majority of the last 50 years. In 2020, third-generation family members Ashley, Richard, John Bradford and Joel May assumed operation and control of May Nursery.

Today, the nursery grows over 600 varieties and cultivars of shrubs, trees, grasses and perennials on 250 irrigated acres of the 500-acre farm in Havana with more than 140 employees. A handful of those employees have worked there since the beginning. The nursery ships plants to 25 states and Canada. (And fun fact: One of May Nursery’s employees, Evan Barrington, was GrowerTalks’ 2018 Young Grower Award winner.)   

A celebration was held at the nursery’s newly built loading docks. With over 200 friends and family in attendance, the celebration included dinner, cocktails and nursery tours. Attendees were given the opportunity to tour the nursery and learn some of the history on how May Nursery came to be. GT