Check out the underside of this flower. It's all white except for the two petals uppermost to the sun which are totally pink.

The flower is a two pink tone lighter on the inside with the outer petals being darker. There is a white center.

But the thing I really noticed is my day old flower had a hot pink edging to its outer petals (burning?) For the sake of photo overload and because its not the best quality photo I've put it in as a url.

Joy Of Life:---

" As for Joy of Life, don't stress with that one, it will do what you want. It needs a bit more time in the ground, let its roots dig deep and establish. See all first year roses as the `ugly duckling` that grows into the beautiful swan! That was a good way of putting it. Most people can be disappointed in the first year but we all need a bit of patience."

So I wont stress about the colour anymore we just have to give it time, I bet at the Spring flowering it will look beautiful...That is the kind of Info I needed...Cheers...MM.

Lozza the 1969 Lara doesn't have the reverse I think and yes it is pink. The reverse one is 1981? also by Meilland, same name and an orangey red colour. (From what I can find on helpmefind.com but I may have my facts wrong). How confusing. Thanks for the info on petal burning, the Laura really has a very distinct case of it that may be what it is supposed to do. As a side issue, can I ask you a question about rose hips and rose seed - the idea that you can plant rose seeds and get a different rose plant interests me. Can roses only cross-pollinate with other roses, naturally? (I hope that's not a dumb question *laugh*) I'm not sure if that's your interest field, but its such a curious thing.

Your question about rose seeds. Nadia, it's not a dumb question, and makes for a stimulating change of topic. I believe (haven't proven it for myself) that only true species will reproduce themselves from seed, that is, when they cross fertilise themselves. Other crosses, whether natural or man-made, can result in seeds, each of which may produce a different seedling from others taken from the same hip. It's complicated, and I won't go into the genetics that make this so. This I can say with certainty though from my own experience.

I am aware of only one instance where a rose has crossed genetic boundaries and cross-fertilised with a plant of another genus, Hulthemia, and resulted in R.hulthemosa hardii, in 1832. Jack Harkness obtained plants of Hulthemia and also successfully crossed roses with it, to produce 'Euphrates', 'Xerxes', 'Tigris', and 'Nigel Hawthorne'. Of these, I have only 'Euphrates'. On my website, there is a story about Hulthemia, or you might prefer to see my contribution to Heritage Roses in Australia, recently published in the Summer, 2005 edition.