Who is Miss Lottie? What is her backstory in the Marigolds by Eugenia Collier but retell. Use sensory language in your description.

Miss Lottie is a central character in Eugenia W. Collier's poignant short story "Marigolds." She is an elderly woman who lives in a dusty, unkempt house on the outskirts of a small town during the Great Depression, surrounded by a neglected yard littered with the remnants of a once vibrant life.

As you step into her world, the air feels heavy with the weight of despair. The peeling paint on her weathered home tells stories of neglect, while the dry earth beneath your feet crackles, echoing the plight of poverty. Yet, amidst the bleakness of her surroundings, a splash of color bursts forth—Miss Lottie’s marigolds. Bright golden petals sway like little suns in the warm breeze, startlingly vivid against the drab backdrop, a testament to this woman’s unyielding spirit and resilience.

The scent of rich soil mixed with the sweet fragrance of blooming marigolds fills the air, creating a paradox to the stark reality that defines her existence. These flowers are her solace, her fierce declaration of beauty amidst suffering. Miss Lottie lovingly cultivates them, pouring her soul into each blossom as if to say that even in the harshest of circumstances, beauty can be birthed from despair.

Her backstory is a tapestry woven with hardship and heartache. Once vibrant and full of life, she now embodies the struggles of many in her community. She could be seen as a recluse, often the subject of gossip among the town's children who view her through a lens of fear and misunderstanding. Yet, it is Miss Lottie’s tenacity that truly defines her. She fiercely tends to her marigolds, nurturing them with care and pride as if they are the remnants of her lost dreams.

When the children, filled with youthful curiosity and mischief, dare to invade her space, they inadvertently stumble upon a deeper truth beneath their misguided fears. As they witness her passionate care for the marigolds, it becomes a turning point that unveils the layers of both Miss Lottie’s sorrow and her strength. In her vibrant blooms, they discover the beauty of resilience and the complexity of humanity that resides even in those who seem lost to despair.

Through sensory-rich imagery of color, scent, and texture, Miss Lottie emerges as a powerful symbol of hope and perseverance—a woman who, despite her struggles, dares to bring life and color into an otherwise bleak existence.