Margaret Lanier grew up hiking and enjoying Florida’s outdoors. Now a photographer, much of her work is nature-centric. When she first heard about the Design and Dine contest, she saw an opportunity for her own personal oasis. However, at first, she didn’t tell her family about her entry.

“I enter so many things like this,” she said. “I never thought I would win. I didn’t even tell anyone in my family until I heard I was a finalist.”

Lanier and her children, Sidney, Bridget and Trey enjoy entering photography contests, and Lanier says that she has taken some of her favorite photos right in her own backyard.

Always a nature-lover, Lanier gives photography lessons to high school students, and she hopes to be able to teach them in her backyard. She says that having a professionally landscaped backyard, complete with indigenous plants, would better allow her to do this.

If she wins, she also says she would use the occasion to throw an Arbor Day party for her neighbors.

“How perfect would that be?” she said. “I could show off the natural beauty of the backyard. I can’t wait to see what the professionals can dream up.”

Click here to vote for your favorite finalist.

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