I had similar question about my Duchesse de Brabant earlier this year. The buds looked similar to yours, though they were larger, but they wouldn't open. I thought it was botrytis, but the advice I got was that it was balling because the buds were not slimy or moldy. If yours are not slimy then it's balling and I was advised like you here just to remove the buds. All is fine now and new buds are already starting to form. Hope this helps.

Yep, both of mine were slow starters. Now I have a new test of patience-- Dr. Grill. Looks like it'll be one of those which grows sideways at first. And William R Smith even slower; in fact I may go ahead and put him in the ground to see if he likes that better. OTOH I am impressed with G. Nabonnand which has grown quickly, alarmingly so. I thought I'd allowed a LOT of space but he will need every inch.

How beautiful! I'm jealous since mine doesn't even have buds yet. However, this early in the year it only has a few hours of morning sun and complete afternoon shade. That's improving, however, and I hope I'll see buds soon. Hopefully this year, which is also its third year, the flowers will be larger and fuller also. I think that so far your Duchesse has more petals than mine did. It's really beautiful.

Vaporvac - yes -- I do mail order from Annie's (too often, I'm afraid). The shipping is expensive, but things always arrive healthy and well packed for me. One time the delivery truck delayed a day in the middle of a heatwave, and the poor plants fried in the truck, so Annie's re-sent all the ones I told them were damaged. I had sent photos to show them what I got. I ordered both Duchesse de Brabant and Grandmother's Hat last night. I'll stick them in pots and wait 'til next year to plant them in the garden, probably. Who knows, really. I seem to change my mind willy-nilly these days. I went out and bought a 2nd Princesse Charlene de Monaco at the last minute yesterday and put it in the spot where I had just dug up my Red Baron peach tree... I'm still waiting on my bare root Scentuous and Julie Andrews roses.