Hi Bonney..........

Yes, there is a thing as "too much sun" for some roses. Roses with thin petal substance, often cannot handle direct sunlight for the same number of hours as roses with thicker petal substance. That said, there is always a rose that will make a liar out of me. It depends on the rose.

There are roses that will thrive in the northern coastal areas of the US, that just don't seem to do well in the same conditions as those found in the lower latitudes and more inland. You have to find the roses that are suited to your climate and your gardening style, to find roses that will thrive in your garden conditions. (I agree, it is always about trial and error. I consider every rose an experiment.)

Not all roses will do well in every climate or location. The 6 hours of sunlight is a general rule, and a pretty good one at that, but it does not take into consideration the intensity of that sunlight. It makes a difference.

According to the patent, 'Aromatherapy' has "thick" petals, which implies that it should have sufficient petal substance to handle a lot of sunlight and heat.

As far as the buds dying in bud form, that can be caused by many things other than over or underwatering. Those symptoms usually show up in the leaves. There are so many variables ! It could be insect damage or soil nutrient problems.

You might want to check out Baldo Villegas's website, it's a great resource:

http://buggyrose.tripod.com/

Smiles,
Lyn