When you walk into a floral shop, you will be greeted by beautiful full blooms and vibrant colors from plants deemed most aesthetically pleasing. This tanka makes me smile because the author, Harryette Mullen, takes notice of plants that are unique in their appearance. Coneflowers, like Mullen describes, have reversed blooms appearing an umbrella because the petals look like they have been flipped inside-out, facing away from the sun. Lamb’s ear and dusty miller are two plants with a velvet-like texture and a faded green appearance due to what looks like a light dusting of snow or frost. In fact, dusty miller is one of my favorite plants aesthetically as it creates a whimsical appearance in a garden. By mentioning peculiar plants, this tanka