I don’t often do photoshoots during the week, but when I got an email from Otto de Jager’s office asking me if I wanted to take photos of the launch of his own rose, I jumped at the chance

Otto hosted the media and then an intimate dinner with some family and friends at his home, which is just the most amazing setting for any event! I arrived just after the media left, and I loved that I got a chance to take photos of this beautiful cerise rose and the table decor before the guests arrived.

The Otto de Jager rose was cultivated by Ludwigs Roses and all the proceeds from the sale of the rose will be going to charity.  The proceeds in the next year will be going to an AIDS charity.

Isn’t the rose just magnificent?  It’s an old style rose which has such a beautiful scent.  This is what the website says about it…

Perfectly shaped hybrid tea buds open to massive, deep cerise pink, shaded red, blooms. The outer petals reflex as they unfold with the inside showing the typical full incurved petals. Blooms are carried on strong, tall, upright stems – perfect for the vase.

Otto chatting to Ludwig and his daughter Anya before the other guests arrived

Otto’s mom supervising the hollandaise sauce

The food was so very clever, roses were used as an ingredient for every dish.  This dish included rose preserve… it wasn’t just the rose petals as decoration!

Event:  ODJ Events
Or d’oeuvres: Wild Rocket Catering
Dinner: Heike from he Rose Barn at Ludwig’s Roses Tea Garden