With a distorted and splotchy bloom, I would say it is thrips. Thrips are very small, and unless you have a major infestati on, you don't readily see them. I spray the buds with Bayer Insect spray for roses and flowers. They seem to like reds and purples the most, so spray all buds on flowers with that color.

Debra

Thanks, Debra. I noticed that it's the reds that have this problem - not even orange ones. I'll look for the spray you mention. Again, thanks.

I wonder though if all splotchiness can be blamed on thrips. I swear that one could spray Born to Run till the cows come home and there still would be splotchiness, Just as an aside, I try to spray as little as possible--usually only those plants that have obvious thrips damage.