Meet Debora Mosher

Her passion: Weyanoke Bird & Wildflower Sanctuary in West Ghent at the end of Armistead Bridge Road.



Why Weyanoke is special: It was designated in 1988 as a sanctuary. It is considered the largest native plant sanctuary in Norfolk and has both woodland and meadow gardens. Thanks to Master Gardeners, it has gained 20 new varieties of native plants in recent years. More than 20 varieties of birds have been spotted in the sanctuary, which is right beside the Elizabeth River Trail and is open to the public on weekends.

What she does there: Debora leads a team of Master Gardeners and other volunteers on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 9 a.m. They help maintain the 7 ½ acre sanctuary, establish native plants, and keep invasive plants from taking over the paths. She also has helped with reading and art programs in the sanctuary for children and adults.

Her previous life: Debora was an oceanography and astronomy teacher at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. She retired in 2007 and soon started studying to become a Master Gardener.

Why she likes being a Master Gardener: She says it keeps her young. Debora has served as president of the Norfolk Master Gardener Association. She has helped lead the Intern Training committee and improve the native plant gardens at the Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center. Debora also is part of the crape myrtle pruning team and many other Master Gardener projects.