@gardencat These are "rugosa roses" (do you know your roses, Joanne? I don't :-) So these are a big shrub growing on the campus in an area that gets a lot of sunlight. So...maybe that's why they are blooming now (?)
@365projectorgheatherb We have some big bushes in the park near here that I'm pretty sure are rugosa, but I don't think they are blooming yet. I haven't been there in a few days though, so I should go check them out tomorrow.