I get the feeling that he would have reacted negatively if you had said you were a accomplished rose breeder as well (ain't natural for a man to grow and like roses I sometimes am told) so you cant win. Or he might agree with it, as they are not threatening. Humm... grow ones with thorns to puncture tractor tires, like me
Try not to feel bad its not you with the problem. I often have to tell myself that many times but I still feel bad.
I’m sorry to hear of your woes