Who is Miss Lottie? What is her backstory? Use sensory language in your description.

Miss Lottie is a pivotal character in Eugenia W. Collier's short story "Marigolds." She is an elderly woman who lives in a dilapidated house on the outskirts of a dusty, impoverished town during the Great Depression. Her backstory is shaped by her struggles against the harshness of her environment, and her life becomes a tapestry woven with threads of resilience and unfulfilled dreams.

As we approach Miss Lottie's home, the air carries the scent of dried earth and faint traces of blooming marigolds. The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows that dance upon the cracked pavement. Her yard, a stark contrast to the desolation surrounding it, bursts with vibrant colors, a riot of yellows and oranges from the marigolds that she lovingly tends. The flowers sway gently in the warm breeze, their petals almost glowing against the muted tones of the dusty landscape.

Miss Lottie herself is a striking figure; she is both rugged and graceful, with hands that tell stories of hard labor and a heart that still hopes. Her skin is weathered, lined by years spent working under the unforgiving sun, yet her eyes sparkle with an inner light, a stubborn determination that hasn’t been extinguished. When she speaks, her voice carries a lilt of joy, yet there is a tremor of sadness underneath—a longing for understanding and appreciation.

In "Marigolds," Miss Lottie embodies the theme of hope amid despair. While the children in the neighborhood often tease her and her marigolds, she remains undeterred, using her flowers as a symbol of beauty and possibility. They stand defiantly against the backdrop of poverty and neglect, a small testament to her dreams and aspirations.

The relevant details to include in a retelling of "Marigolds" are:

1. The setting—describing the dusty, impoverished town and the starkness of the landscape contrasted with Miss Lottie's colorful marigolds.
2. Miss Lottie's character—her appearance, demeanor, and the mixed reactions she elicits from the neighborhood children, particularly the main narrator, Lizabeth.
3. The children's perspective—highlighting their initial scorn and ridicule toward Miss Lottie’s flowers, which mirrors their struggles with adolescence and loss of innocence.
4. The climax of the story, where Lizabeth, overwhelmed by her emotions and the confusion of growing up, destroys Miss Lottie's marigolds in a fit of rage and frustration.
5. The aftermath of this act, emphasizing Miss Lottie's response and the deep sense of regret Lizabeth feels afterward, as she begins to understand the complexity of hope, dreams, and human dignity.

Through sensory language, we can vividly paint the emotional landscape of the story, revealing the rich tapestry of life, loss, and the bittersweet nature of growing up in a world that often feels devoid of beauty.