Please do post a pic of what you mean by "ugly", and someone on here will be able to give you suggestions.

Jackie

Hey Jackie. I looked and looked and just can't come across a pic. I'm sure the brown spots on it are from thrips bc I always seems to have them but the middle of the buds are always sunken in and rarely have a tip. The center is always messed up and dark and it just makes an ugly bloom. I've cut them back so when it blooms again I will post a pic. I was hoping someone else might have the same problem. The last blooms weren't quite as bad but still never look like my sister in laws. :((

How does where you have your rose planted differ from how your sister in law has hers planted? Does one get more sun, more heat, more water (or less)? If you both grow the same rose and it isn't as nice for you as it is for her, it's not the plant, but where it's planted and how the situations/conditions differ. If you can more closely replicate her conditions, your rose stands a better chance of resembling hers. Kim

Hey Kim. I planted the second one in a different location and it still has the ugly blooms. I will definitely ask her for details about hers. I found a bud and a bloom on my old one so going to post a couple pics. The bloom isn't quite as ugly as it is earlier in the year but still not pretty. I know it's crazy but I just can't take those blooms. Here's the bud. See how the middle looks like it's been eaten out but it never looks like something is nibbling on it and the color looks weird on the bud. It's like the color is saturated in the middle but it's suppose to be a blush color. I know I'm rambling it's just hard to explain.

Evidently the rose has naturally cupped bloom form, and you don't like that. The brown spots visible in the outer petals are probably from botrytis petal blight. Some varieties are more susceptible than others.

The "verandas" are a series of roses that the breeder thinks have similar qualities, but they are not necessarily closely related.

Blush Veranda is a very double rose. It's color begins as that darkish pink and fades with heat, light and age as it opens and matures. What you're showing in that photo above is the natural look of that kind of flower. If your sister in law's flowers appear different from that, I would suspect her conditions are hotter and brighter than where yours are planted. I understand you find it unattractive, but what you're showing is completely healthy and natural appearing. It's an immature flower which should, provided enough heat and sun, mature into a more fully expanded bloom. The image I likned to below shows the center you show, and how the petals fade with age, heat and light. The hotter, drier and brighter the conditions in which they open, the lighter, paler the petals become, faster. Cooler, less brilliant and damper conditions will keep it pinker, less blush and lengthen the period the centers will remain as you've pictured. It's the only way that flower can be formed. There are many petals with the inner ones of much shorter length than the outer petals. The "eaten out center" is just how the flower is formed. Many larger flowered, heavily petaled flowers like the Romanticas, Austins and quite a few of the other breeders' roses, including Kordes, have that same look. It matures faster with more heat. How does her garden compare to yours heat and sun wise? Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: Image of Blush Veranda

Bloom I forgot to post.

Kim thats probably it. It certainly sounds like it needs more sun than it gets. I think I will move them this fall to a spot that gets more than it gets now at least my first one. I'm going to leave my second one since it's only been there for a few months and gets a good 8 hours of sun.

Michael I LOVE the cupped roses. I have oodles and oodles of English and love each and every one of them. It makes sense what you say about the verandas having similar qualities but not closely related. Crazy me would think they would. Lol

Thanks for everyone's help!!! Judy

Kim. Looking at the pic you sent my buds rarely if ever look like the bud in the bottom right hand side. Hoping when I move her she gets all pretty like your pic. Thanks again!! Judy

Hi Judy, you're welcome! I'll bet if you provide more heat and sun, your blooms should look more like those on HMF. Or, as much like them as the available heat and sun in your garden can provide. Good luck! Kim