Why does the almanac plant tears in the flower beds of the child's picture in Bishop Sestina?

The tears in the flower beds of the child's picture symbolize the emotional weight and longing expressed in the poem. The almanac plant may be shedding tears as a metaphor for the passage of time and the memories that continue to linger in the speaker's mind, causing emotional pain. These tears represent the nostalgia and sense of loss that the speaker experiences as they reflect on the past.