Trista Imrich - Owner, Landscape Designer, Wild Works of Whimsy
Trista Imrich, owner of Wild Works of Whimsy and Southern Branch Nursery, is a Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH), Designer (VSLD-certified), and Level 2 Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional in design and installation (CBLP-ID).
A Navy veteran (Surface Warfare Officer), this Ohio native has a Masters of Science in Environmental Policy and Management, bringing a unique perspective to landscape design and horticulture. She is actively involved with Lynnhaven River NOW, a local watershed nonprofit where she worked for 6 years, and has experience with the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) requirements and mitigation, to include living shorelines, rain gardens, infiltration trenches, and conservation landscaping.
Trista helped to write and edit the “Native Plants for Southeast Virginia” guide. She is also a local speaker for events, garden clubs and local groups.
Carly grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where she developed a love of nature and gardening. She especially likes hummingbirds and plants that attract them, such as Coral Honeysuckle, Native Azaleas, Cardinal Flower, Live Oaks, Fothergilla and Serviceberries. She has been living in Tidewater for 15 years and enjoys spending time with friends and family, working with her dog, making wine and keeping bees.
Eric Gunderson - Propagation Lead/ Nursery Founder
Eric Gunderson is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he earned a degree in Nursery Management/Landscape Design in 1979. He worked as a Nursery Manager for London Bridge Nursery before founding Southern Branch Nursery, Inc. in 1981. He initially operated a retail garden center and landscape nursery on Battlefield Boulevard, but later moved to the current location on Benefit Road. Eric is passionate about propagating and growing over 450 species of native plants.
Maggie is a Tidewater native with a lifelong passion for plants and ecology. She decided to pursue her passion in 2019 and left her restaurant manager job to study horticulture at Tidewater Community College. She gained experience in commercial landscaping, but soon realized that she wanted to focus on environmental conservation. That’s why she joined Southern Branch Nursery, where she creates beautiful and functional landscapes with native plants. She is also interested in permaculture, wetland restoration, and medicinal plants. When she is not working, she likes to paint, explore natural areas, and spend time with her family.