These are all so cool! I went a totally different route. Since I am still having trouble with layers, it is all in one layer.
1) I cloned out all the 'scrubs' in front and on the side of the clump of trees.
2) I did some curves until I got something, I liked color wise---although I would have like a bit more red and purple I think.
3) Then by accident I found the smudge tool and played with it a bit. It started looking kind of Van Gogh to me so I went with it.....