Bloom Form And Color
The blooms have 90 to 105 petals and are nicely scented. Under perfect conditions, the scent is strongly reminiscent of 'Mme. Isaac Pereire,' as is the color - - described variously as carmine-red, lilac rose and purple crimson. Bloom form is confusingly variable: cupped and even quartered in cools weather, sometimes with a button eye. Usually the petaloids immediately surrounding the stamens remain tightly packed and twirled, forming a button eye with no stamens exposed. Reverse is silvery pink, face is strong pink with dark mauve overtones, making for a very bright color that is difficult to capture with digital cameras. The number of petals is almost double the number found on my young "Union Redwood Cemetery HP," which averages about 50. Also, "Union Redwood Cemetery HP" usually opens to reveal the stamens at the center, which "Old Town Novato" does only occasionally in my climate and in Novato.
