Hello, Marjorie. It sounds like a case of Botrytis Blight, a fungal infections in which a gray mold eventually develops. An outbreak of BB usually affects the blooms (petals) and the flower buds only. Water spots develop, change to red-ish brown irregular blotches that end up browning out. The withered bloom then gets covered with gray spores. Some damage can occur on leaves if there is contact between the bloom and the leaf.

Good housekeeping practices can help minimize this problem. Discard in the trash all plant debris under the bush. Allow for good air movement around the shrub by not planting other shrubs nearby. In the Fall, discard the faded blooms in the trash. Do not over water or keep the soil/mulch moist or wet. Water early in the morning (5am-ish?) by watering the soil, not the leaves or blooms.

You can also use fungicides with these active ingredients: iprodione, mancozeb or thiophanate-methyl like Cleary's 3336. Because it is in a more moist and humid location, Doodley got it and the others (with more sun) did not.

This post was edited by luis_pr on Tue, Jun 18, 13 at 6:13

yes-been wet here and high humidity-Luis has your answers!!!