For many IU students, a drive down College Avenue does not extend much further than “Kroghetto”, located between 1st and 2nd streets. Onward, past the merge of College and Walnut, only a few miles south and you will find Mays Greenhouse.

Mays, which opened over 50 years ago, serves the Bloomington community by providing countless plants, landscaping material and much more. Founder Marshal May left the heating and air conditioning business to fulfill a dream in gardening which led to the birth of Mays Greenhouse.

Beginning with a small greenhouse on their home property, Marshal and his wife Emma opened Mays Greenhouse for business in the spring of 1965. The business was a family affair with their daughters Martha and Helen working too.  As business took off, Mays added more greenhouses and a shed for the cash register.

After Emma’s death a few years later, Marshal’s daughters Nancy and Judy joined the business and shortly thereafter he gave the business to all four of his daughters.

As the years past, Marshal’s daughters grew the business and Mays became a corporation in 2004.

Mays now serves the Bloomington community year-round providing a plethora of products to the community. In addition, Mays hosts three open houses each year: spring, fall, and Christmas.

Mays also hosts classes to provide customers with a better understanding of how to care for their plants. Sheila Brewer, who works with house plants, instructs classes on fairy gardens and bonsai.

“Succulents are probably the most popular thing right now,” said Brewer. “We sell a lot of different kinds because they are so easy to grow.”