Kate Holds Tight to the Language of Flowers

Oh so many messages in Kate's bouquet. She's a new fan of the Victorian Language of Flowers. This must be what happens when you design your own coat of arms. You get caught up in the symbolism of plants and animals.

Remember Sarah Ferguson's own coat of arms with bees and thistles? She had them embroidered all over her wedding gown and talked about how she was "busy as a bee." She was such a happy bride that we gave her a pass.

Now Kate Middleton has gone off the deep end with the Language of Flowers. This indulgence in flora was probably brought on by her researches into the meaning of the oak tree she chose for her coat of arms.

Actually it's affected all the Middletons and at the wedding they wore custom jewelry based on their oak and acorn theme. Kate's wedding earrings are oak and acorn too.

Every bride gets a little batty about something, and this at least will give Kate something to talk about with her garden-obsessed father-in-law, Prince Charles.

Let's decode the message of her fragrant, shield-shaped bouquet:

Sweet William (aww!) -- The Prince of course, and gallantry

Lily of the Valley -- Return of happiness

Hyacinth -- Constancy of love

Ivy -- Fidelity (it's certainly faithful to the fence in my garden), marriage, wedded love, affection

Myrtle -- Emblem of marriage and love 

Uh oh. Kate's going to give all her daughters flower names. Princess Myrtle of Wales. I hope not.