Hi Dirtdorphins, I think I like the first shot with the blue light of the catmint best. Perhaps you could have introduced some highlights in the editing process. Overall, it's a good shot. I see the difference in the colors of the roses. The second shot has more depth and areas of light and shadow that give it more dimension.
Post whatever photos you'd like.
Vickie, I've moved some flowers around before too. I've tried teasing some of the bulbous, bubbly ones apart where they were stuck together and looked terrible. Once I tore the corner off doing that and then just folded it down where it wouldn't show....ooops. What you could try since you have a permanent building and another obstruction that you can't move, maybe you could try propping up a sheet of lattice---maybe you have some laying around and lean it against a chair while you take the shot? Or, at art supply places you can pick up large sheets of different colored paper in a size big enough to block the building and the dead trees on the other. That way you'd have a nice background to be shooting against. If you zoom in from further out you'll get a nice blurry, bokeh in the background of the shot. That would put the building and the dead trees out of focus.
EDIT: I shouldn't have said "paper" as they're more heavy than paper and usually like thin cardboard thickness. They come in different colors and can be propped up where you need them. Do you have any tall indoor plants you could set in the background while shooting? Anything to make it look nicer for you. I would move back further and zoom in closer and see how that works.
I'm going to be putting up picket fencing across the back of our house to hide the cream/beige colored siding that makes the blooms look really washed out. I think it'll look nice and natural and no one but you guys will know about it! So don't tell anyone....!
