Has your Spring been cool and moist?
That's what some of mine do when it's cool and moist in the Spring.
There is not enough heat to help the bloom open.

I think that's fungal. I don't think that's thrips damage. I associate that sort of damage with cold wet weather (botrytis).

I feel your pain. Those pictures look like my Buff Beauty. Once the weather warms up the blooms look better (until that is, it gets really hot.) Meanwhile I am removing brown blooms (open or not) on a daily basis. Lime-sulfur or Bordeax mixture right after pruning or copper in the bud stage (for botrytis) is a traditional organic approach. It's organic but not harmless so wearing protective gear is important. This site lists some (organic) alternative approaches for dealing with thrips: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7429.html

I think this year is a wash for me; it's starting to get warm so problems should dissipate. Next year I hope to try Organic Plant Healthcare's product for thrips provided it is released by then.

I think it is both. The last photo indicates botrytis. But in my anecdotal experience they re-enforce each other. Thrips damage the bloom and botrytis steps in and makes the problem worse. I have it during even the hot months.

I have the same thing. And I agree with centerum, but I think the balling allows the thrips more time to do damage.

Either way, trying to force blooms open helps a bit.

x3 - with emphasis on Thrips. Dang things made me give up roses for a couple of years. They may do it again. I've already sprayed with Avid twice and Merit twice - all while still in the bud. Yet, my lighter roses are infested and they all have it to some degree.

Conserve/Spinosad only works on development - it's like JB's - you can't account for your neighbors' thrips sites, so it only does so much.

Merit does OK, but only lasts a couple of days. In warm weather, it's caused me spider mites directly on the blossoms. Tests have indicated that mite reproduction actually increases with Merit. Orthene is better in my experience - lasting about a week - but kills literally everything, everywhere. Then you're still fighting spider mites all summer.

I had thought the Avid was the answer - I'm not impressed. :-( :-( :-(

I am also wondering if it is thrips and botrytis. All of my pinks look like this. I know I have thrips because I could see lots of them. Then, just yesterday someone posted a picture of botrytris showing that is causes red spots on the flowers. I noticed that on my pink flowers too. I didn't have any idea what it was. I'm seriously considering sp all of my pinks because they look so bad. None of my reds, yellows, or apricots had this damage.

Thrips are no mystery. You can cut a bloom and shake it over a piece of paper. The thrips are clearly visible.

I don't know about your garden, Aprille, but it has been horribly windy quite late this year. Usually it is windy in March. This year we had wind throughout April. Wind will dry the edges of the blooms.

The last bloom may have botrytis, but the wind does that too.

Rosetom, I had trouble with thrips and spider mites last year. I purchased this Bayer product (link) and hopefully it will take care of both.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bayer Insect Disease and Mite Control

chuck billie - actually our spring is usually cool and moist, this year it's all over the place, one day it's cold, the next it hot ... it's driving me crazy - my spring flush is totally ruined!

york rose - it's definetely not wet around here - it's one of the driest springs we've had, already talks about water restrictions.

huttnem thanks for that info - I usually don't spary, even organics, but I think starting next year I'm going to do that. Will look into the copper, maybe for the next bloom cycle ... ugh! I hate seeing so many buds just going to waste - it's so heart-breaking!

I know for sure I've got thrips on some of the roses - the first two pictures I've checked on this plant with every single rose I've cut off for thirps and not found any .. that does not mean that those little devils are not there.

Thanks for all the advice - it's so appreciated.

Aprille