Question
I have been growing roses for 45 years. Recently purchased a new rose  Summer of Love.
The blooms do not look like those on the label or Internet.  The nursery replaced the rose when I sent them a photo.  The replaced rose has slightly more color, but nothing like the photos.  Contacted the grower who said it might be because this is the first year of flower.?? Is this possible? My theory is that  the roses I own are carrying a dilute color gene.  Have had three blooms, two were pale cream with a slight tint of pink on the edges. The third has more color on the edges but definitely not like the photos.
I am puzzled, this has never happened to me before, it is as if the bush is throwing different variations of color all dilute.  Would be interested in your theory.  Thank you.

Answer
Hello Beverley,

Well, I definitely believe you know what you are doing with 45 years experience.  Here is my theory.  

It could be the fact your bush is new to your garden and it just needs some time to acclimate before you see the true color.  'Love' a grandiflora here in the US is like that.  The first year I grew it, I was ready to dig it up.  It have very few blooms and the color was diluted considering it is red with a pure white reverse. Now the second year was a different plant all together.

Not being familiar with 'Summer of Love' I looked it up on Help Me Find.com and what a variation of colors this rose can have.  The ones grown in California had rich dark colors.  The ones grown in Texas were pale and diluted.   California has heat but does not have the humidity that can affect the rose's color.  Texas has heat and humidity and that tends to dilute the colors until fall or cooler weather.  Is your climate hot and dry or hot and humid.  I am thinking that this rose is very sensitive to growing conditions and that is the reason for such a color variance.   Here is the link showing the different color variations

http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.58043&tab=36&qn=1&qc=0

Hope that helps,

Jay