This post is part of a series highlighting our chapter members who are professional landscapers
Robert May
In Horto Landscape Design LLC
inhortostl.com
Services: Design, consultation, and in-person garden coaching
Robert May is associated with not one, but two landscape design companies: Pretty City Gardens and Landscapes (for clients east of 270), and his own In Horto Landscape Design LLC (for clients west of 270). Getting its name from Chicago’s unofficial motto, “Urbs in Horto”, which means “City in a Garden,” In Horto Landscape Design offers design, consultation, and in-person garden coaching.
Seven years ago, while employed in the retail industry, Rob had to have several trees removed from his yard. The process of removal and replacement sparked an interest in plants. In just a few years’ time he had planted over 30 trees, 70 shrubs, and almost 2000 square feet of garden space. He began reading and becoming aware of Doug Tallamy and Ben Vogt. As he learned about gardening, he noticed that native plants were frequently referenced. Once their importance to the environment became better documented, he never looked back. Instead, he made them integral to his mission. To Rob, gardening is now synonymous with native plants.
His own research at Meramec’s Horticultural program gave him the impetus to include native plants in design; first with Pretty City Gardens, and then with starting In Horto. An example of the insights he espouses is that even though the soil around St. Louis is clay, native plants will grow. Below a few inches, the basic soil is not going to change even if amended, and native plants have deep roots. In addition, disturbing the soil disturbs the insect and microbial use of the land. Rob says, “Amend the soil as little as possible, choosing plants for the location instead. The site itself dictates its own directives – one cannot plant a sun-loving aster under a shady oak.”
As you might expect, Rob is an advocate for ecology. He says,
“By utilizing a largely native plant palette, we will not only increase the food supply for pollinators on our properties, but we will create sources of nourishment for our birds and other higher forms of life.”
In Horto does all types of design, from an entire yard to a garden space, as well as garden coaching. Need a little help and advice? Rob is your man. His successes include Beautify Crestwood, St. Mary’s High School, and Zion Cemetery in North County. He says,
“It really is an electric time to be involved with the native plant movement, especially as a designer. We are discovering so much about native plants and their place in not just more natural designs, but also how they can be stunning in semi-formal and formal arrangements as well.”
Rob was introduced to Wild Ones through the annual Landscape Challenge, a program sponsored in part by Wild Ones St. Louis. He was the designer of the winning front yard makeovers for three years and has been a member since 2017. The mission statement for In Horto Landscape Design sums up Rob’s goal: To envision gardenscapes that invite respite from daily life and inspire the imagination.
Beautify Crestwood Firehouse Garden
