Lantana: Lantana camara

Lantana: Lantana camara

Lantana Poem by Juan Olivarez

Lantana blooms out in the wild,
In beautiful colors to please the eye.
It's blossoms never go out of style,
As they turn their faces to the sky.

Lantana's leaves are forest green,
And adorn the spiny stems with grace.
All around honey bees can be seen,
As around the plant they seem to race.

Pink with black, orange and red,
Any gardener worth his pay,
Would dream of these colors in his bed,
And plant lantana every day.

9/2/10 Alton Texas

Santan: Ixora coccinea

Red Santan

santan flower by Regina Bowler

four soft petals
four japanimated points.

then the stem translucent, almost anemic
but i am not deceived.
though it is
so thin you must hold it with two fingers only,
it won't break.
you hold it that way so you don't drop it
and lose your treasure for the day.

you taste the nectar
one clear, delicate drop
the sugar water makes you smile
and for a little while longer
you are not a spoiled, nasty little girl.