Looking at the texture of this rose in a park I visited reminded me so much of red velvet cake! You know, the red colored chocolatey cake that makes just about everyone's mouth water. Sigh...hate it when everything looks like food when I haven't eaten yet :P
You're absolutely right it does look like velvet. It is a magnificent composition, Chris. Since I don't like red velvet cake it's not bothering me a bit to see it.