Happily spreading cheer.
A couple of years ago husband and I were visiting a children’s garden in Ann Arbor. There was an old pail spilling over with lantana. He stopped to admire it, and then asked if we could grow some in our garden. Sure I replied. It’s easy to grow.
And then I forgot all about it.
But this year, as he and I were perusing the local nursery, considering what to put into the pots outside the front door, I saw it again. Lantana in beautiful and cheerful colors.
Love these colors together.
And I thought of my mom who used to grow it in a small garden out by the driveway of her Alabama home. How it reseeded itself every year, tolerated drought, how deer didn’t eat it. So we bought some.
Such interesting shapes.
And now, every time I go in or out of our front door I think of my mom. I think she would have enjoyed the colors and the shapes. The interesting buds that turn into intricate blossoms. They would have made her smile.
They make me smile too.
Change Is Hard 
June 26, 2016 at 9:35 am
I had some of that very same lantana planted in the pot that sits on a chair just off my front deck a few years ago and loved it. I haven’t found it in those colors again, though. Your pot is lovely.
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June 27, 2016 at 7:05 am
That’s cool that you had the very same lantana! They had several colors at the nursery but I was drawn to this one. I hope they have it again next year!
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June 26, 2016 at 9:47 am
I discovered cherry sunrise lantana a few years ago, and now I seek it out every summer (it’s hard to find around here). The hummingbirds LOVE it.
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June 27, 2016 at 7:06 am
I haven’t seen any hummingbirds around it yet, but I’m sure they’ll find it. Cool that you even know the name! Carol had it one year too and then couldn’t find it. I hope I can find it next year.
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June 26, 2016 at 10:34 am
It looks so tropical like it should be living with palm trees beside a beach. Lovely!
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June 27, 2016 at 7:07 am
That would be nice! 🙂
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June 26, 2016 at 3:05 pm
I love this so much!! I’m making a note to myself for next spring — find and buy some latana. The colors are spectacular — so cheery!
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June 27, 2016 at 7:07 am
I’ve seen many different colors. Mom always had yellow and orange.
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June 26, 2016 at 7:15 pm
we always called them stink weed – they look pretty but smell awful 🙂
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June 27, 2016 at 7:08 am
I’ll have to go out and smell them. I haven’t smelled anything at all yet.
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June 27, 2016 at 12:45 pm
I guess I’ll always associate lantana with Florida, where it grew wild on the Gulf Coast. Never saw it in my northern life. But it is bright and smile-making — and especially, I’m sure, for serving as a reminder of your mother.
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June 28, 2016 at 9:19 am
Pretty! I’ve had lantana in a container in the past and it is beautiful. I didn’t buy any this year. Maybe I’ll take a look around and see if there is still any to be had at a local nursery. Thanks for this pretty thought!
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