Too wide and too grey

Trying to make a piece of work based on this scene:

https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2794576706755627955

but with the cut branches framed by the pollarded willow trunks which were in view standing slightly back from where the photo that I put on here was taken. I want the trunks to be highly textured so I'm making them, and the branches, separately to attach to the background as otherwise the amount of satin stitch would just totally distort everything. This first trunk I've done has turned out too wide and having looked at it against the background I think it would be better in the slightly browner thread colour as well, my work often involves quite a bit of trial and error like this, hence it all taking ages.