I don't think that I have encountered thrips. If I don't catch the aphids early enough in the spring, the first few blooms can be wonky. Darn bloodsucking creepy crawlie things. Aphids make my skin crawl. Wiping them off with a soapy paper towel or rag and spraying with neems keeps them in check.
From what I read, some roses's buds don't open well in damp weather. I think they call it balling or bunching? It is encountered in some antique roses in some climates. I know that there are lots of potential reasons for malformed buds. I was referring to certain roses that have a reputation for having problems in wet weather. I have encountered comments about it when researching antique roses. We have rainy springs and humid summers, so such roses wouldn't be the best choices for me. Unfortunately, I don't remember which roses had the problem.
I should have checked hmf before typing. It states red eden is "prone to balling". When I read that, I pick a different rose.
http://www.helpmefind.com/rose...
