Question
my tea roses are 2 and 3 years old.  
I have Blue Girl
      Mr Lincoln
      Fragrant Cloud
Last year they had the most beautiful fragrance.
Now there is barely a slight smell.

What can be wrong?
Help...
Thank you
Ann Marie

Answer
Well, Ann Marie, this is a fascinating question on a subject dear to my own heart.

I have not noticed this in my own garden. But there are so many variables - the speed and direction of a breeze, the time of day, the age of the flower, my own fatigue - that it has not ever crossed my mind to ask if a fragrance was stronger in any plant the previous year.

I was "this close" to clicking the "I'm sorry I can't answer this questions."  Instead, I decided to check this question out with a few very smart people.  And to my surprise, I was immediately directed to University of Minnesota's Extension Service (www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/YGLNews/YGLN-Jan0103.html), which has posted an intelligent page on flower fragrance and has specifically this to say about fragrance variation in the same plant.  They note that any flower's scent begins with the part of the flower that roduces it; Rose pollen has a distinct fragrance of its own that is not as strong as the fragrances given off by the rest of the Rose.

But did you know that healthy flowers have stronger fragrance than flowers that are under the weather?  That's what Univ. of Minn. says.

They write: "Flowers tend to be the most fragrant when they have sufficient nutrition."

Warm temperatures and high light are more inclined to strengthen flower fragrance.  But fragrance shortens the life of a flower. After all, it takes a lot of energy to make fragrance.

Humid air helps enhance flower fragrance. Why?

Univ. of Minn. says: "Scent molecules are able to travel farther and are easier for your nose to pick up when the air is more humid. The plants may also release more fragrant compounds under humid conditions."

So I suppose in answer to your question, Ann Marie, we have good news and bad news.

The good news is that you are not imagining this fragrance boycott in your garden.  It is not in your head.  It is in your Roses.

And there is the bad news: Your Roses may not be as healthy as they were last year.

To confirm, try smelling them on a warm, humid morning.  If you still smell less than last year, you should take a critical look to see how healthy they seem to be.  It is possible that they were doing better last year.

Please keep me posted.

And thank you so much for your mind expanding question.