All in the lighting?

       A. N. Other wants some Hydrangea Heads, for some project.  So that she could see & make her mind up before coming I did a couple of shots; both with and without a Flash.
       I could barely believe the difference.   All I did was clone out one Twig hogging the lime-light in the bottom shot, which was almost invisible in the upper one; I'mm wondering, now if I "otter" have left them?