A certain flower originated in Italy but has an annual festival in a Shropshire town devoted to it after a Scotsman made it popular in Victorian England. What are the names of the flower, the Scotsman and the town?

peasypod

Very cute, gmack! (She blushes) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_pea "Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae (legumes), native to the eastern Mediterranean region from Sicily east to Crete. Henry Eckford (d.1906), a nurseryman of Scottish descent, cross-bred and developed the sweet pea, turning it from a rather insignificant, if sweetly scented flower, into the floral sensation of the late Victorian era. In 1888 he set up his development and trial fields for Sweet Peas in the north Shropshire market town of Wem. By 1901, he had introduced a total of 115 cultivars, out of total 264 cultivars grown at the time (Graham Rice, The Sweet Pea Book, Batsford 2002, p.9). Eckford was presented with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour for his work. He died in 1906 but his work was continued, for a time at least, by his son John Eckford." [Added material from reference - McG] Jun 26 06, 7:50 PM

gmackematix

Yay and happy birthday, Peasy! Time to blow out all the candles on your Black Forest gateau... Jun 26 06, 7:56 PM

peasypod

Thankyou Gerard, yes, I woke up this morning to a new grey hair. Thanks for the cake, does it come with an Earl Grey too? Jun 26 06, 8:01 PM

gmackematix

Earl Grey sounds a bit sober for this sort of occasion. I think we should pop a cork... Jun 26 06, 8:27 PM

Gnomon

The question isn't answered until the answer has been published on this site. It's not enough to just put a link to another site. Jun 27 06, 8:48 AM

zbeckabee

In honor of peasy's BIRTHDAY...not to mention the fact that she is getting REALLY, REALLY OLD...I'll do the work for her... Flower: Sweet Pea Scotsman: Henry Eckford Town: Wem. Jun 27 06, 9:27 AM

McGruff

LOL! I was doing the work for her, for her birthday! Happy birthday, Peasy dear! Jun 27 06, 9:29 AM

peasypod

Thankyou Griff! (See, he knows I'd never just plonk a link..) Jun 27 06, 3:13 PM