Meet Dianne Kinnison

Dianne was born and grew up in Norfolk and lived here 53 years. She moved to Suffolk for thirteen years and moved back to Norfolk in 2018. Dianne and both of her children graduated from Granby High School. She moved back to Norfolk when her husband passed away so she could be closer to her family.

Dianne retired from Virginia Beach Public Schools after 39 years.

She wanted to become a master gardener because she built a new house and wanted to create gardens of her choice. She researched and read how to create the massive Best Management Practices (BMPs) in her front yard to comply with the city’s requirement to handle stormwater runoff. She wanted to learn what, where and why she was planting things.

In order to earn her fifty required hours she consistently worked with the Demonstration Dune Gardens. She also worked with some of the outreach projects and resiliency groups, as well as Ask a Master Gardener.

Now that she is certified she will continue working with the Dune Gardens and community outreach.

When Dianne is not volunteering with Master Gardener projects she will be working in her yard or her son’s yard. She landscaped her front and half of her side yard; this year she’s designing and beginning the landscape in the back yard.

Dianne has two children (Nate and Jackie) and is blessed with 8 grandchildren ranging in age from 2-16, six boys and two girls.

When you see Dianne, be sure to introduce yourself and welcome her to the Norfolk Master Gardener Volunteers.