A rose is a rose, is a rose...., but is it?

Kid quote of the day (today):
This is a lovely work of art in progress, don't you think?
Well, I do. So I said to artist, "Oh golly, I just love your tulips. Those colors go so well together, and I also like the way you made your flowers different sizes."
Artist said, "Mrs. Smith, don't you know? These are roses. I don't even know what tulips look like!"
My response....just a smile. Really, what can a middle-aged woman say to a cute-as-a-button 3rd grader when she is certain that her Tulips are Roses?