Strange is entirely unaware of Rita's anger and entirely unaware of the fact that this conversation is going to end with him getting punched in the nose. Instead, he's far too focused on the fact that these roses had apparently spread out throughout the city.

Huh. Maybe he should actually leave his apartment and pay attention to things that are going on.

"What exactly happened at the attack? Was the rose bush...I don't know, going for the kill?" This is a dumb conversation but sometimes, when you're a hot shot mage trying to get information from lesser beings, dumb conversations are the name of the game.