Director of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Philip Aubury has spent his lifetime enjoying plants. He has been in charge at the internationally-renowned gardens in Edgbaston for 18 years and believes it would be the perfect location for an extra special dinner.
The director would play host to special guests with his wife, Elisabeth at his side.
The couple met while young students at the botanical gardens in 1967 and their love of horticulture has helped seal the marriage which has run for 37 years.
Philip says: "I wouldn't dream of having this dinner without Elisabeth. It would be very special and we would have a lovely evening."
The guests:
John Claudius Loudon 1783-1843
This Scotsman was responsible for designing the gardens and Philip says: "I like to think of him as the Alan Titchmarsh of his day."
Certainly the farmer's son was a largerthan-life character with grand ambitions for the gardens including a glasshouse that never got built. Money shortages meant the gardens' supporters had to tighten their belts and Loudon's design was destined to remain on paper.
Even so his legacy lives on at the gardens and the Loudon Suite that overlooks the sweeping terraces bears his name.
"It would have been so fascinating to talk to the man and discover what he things of the gardens today," said Philip.
"I would love to show him the glasshouses and see what he thinks has been achieved here."
Loudon was very much at the cutting edge of contemporary design and enjoyed including innovative products into his work - the use of glass in such dramatic buildings was revolutionary for his time. He was a supporter of the formal geometric gardens which had been out of favour in England for a century and in one of his books, The Encyclopedia of Gardening he advocated a style of planting design he dubbed Gardenesque.
"I wonder now what John would have thought of say the video camera. I am sure he would be fascinated."
Dinner would be taken in the Loudon Suite, which once played host to world leaders visiting Birmingham for the G8 Summit. "If it was good enough for Bill Clinton then it would be good enough for us," says Philip.
"I think we could meet on a warm, summer evening at 7pm for drinks with dinner at 7.30. We would have drinks on the terrace and watch the sun go down before sitting down for dinner. No doubt they might be one or even two glass of the finest Champagne. Perfect."
Ambitious and devoted Jane Loudon was a good match for her husband's talents and carved her own reputation as a skilled botanical artist.
Philip's wife Elisabeth is also a keen botanical artist, relishing the challenge of capturing on paper the qualities of each specimen.
"While the gardens and horticulture has been transformed over all these years the skills of the botanical artist are still very much the same," says Philip.
"I am sure they would have plenty to talk about."
Jane for her time was very independent and well known in her own right. She was born at Ritwell House, near Birmingham, and in 1807 was orphaned at the age of 17.
Achievements include a number of books like Instructions in Gardening for Ladies, which can be found on Philip's bookshelves, that was packed with practical advice and sold more than 20,000 copies.
"She really knew her stuff and was able to make her own name. It would be wonderful to have met her," he adds.
It was her husband who nurtured her passion and knowledge for flowers.
They had met after John had shown an interest in a book called The Mummy, written by Jane under a man's name to raise money after the death of her father. The book's success helped Jane survive daily demands and reflected on what life would be like in the 22nd Century.
It is on record that John, who at 47 was 24 years older than his bride, was devoted to this young woman who became his dutiful wife. Together they spent many hours in the garden and experimented with plants with Jane acting as secretary, researcher, note taker and loyalist supporter.
"I often wonder what their life would have been like together and did they find time to stroll around the gardens," says Philip.
The couple were friends of Charles Dickens and William Thackeray and until John's death from a lung disease were travelling extensively and helped popularise the idea of garden tours around the country.
Philip says: "They would have been such a marvellous couple to meet and to sit down and talk about gardens. It would be a very special evening."
Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, are open daily. Call 0121 454 1860 or see the website at www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Summer highlights include band concerts each Sunday afternoon.
