As my botany instructor likes to say: “plants are like people: they’re all unique individuals.” So where better to look than the world of horticulture when plotting a seating chart for a dinner? This lineup of sparkling personalities was designed to keep the conversation (and wine) flowing—with a few irascible characters (and 3 unidentified party crashers) in the mix.*

*NB: One of the guests was a bit camera shy, so she didn’t make it in the group portrait.