Diana Benner studied Marine Biology with an emphasis in Instrumental Analysis and then focused her graduate studies in the field of Vegetation Ecology. Prior to The Watershed Nursery, she conducted vegetation mapping for the Calfed Integrated Regional Wetland Monitoring project and the San Francisco National Estuarine Research Reserve, assessed success of riparian mitigation projects for the Regional Water Board and ACOE, and assisted the San Francisco Estuary Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency with the development of a rapid assessment method for wetlands.

Since co-founding The Watershed Nursery in 2001 with Laura Hanson, Diana has dedicated herself to providing top quality materials and services for local habitat enhancement projects. Executing this goal has required not only the rapid attainment of horticultural knowledge and familiarization with local native plant populations (and managing entities) but also necessitated continuing research into current issues in genetics, hybridization, pest risks, and developments in environmental restoration techniques. The Watershed Nursery team has had the honor and pleasure of participating in hundreds of local habitat enhancement projects, working with non-profit, private, and government entities, and providing hundreds of thousands of plants to projects in central and northern California. In addition to her nursery work Diana is currently an organizing member of the California Native Nursery Network and the Phytophthora in Native Habitats Working Group.