Thank you both for your comments. And, yes JiminyC., I definitely want to experiment more in PostP. Thank you for you kind words about the background. I've been trying to pay more attention to getting that right in my macros.
Wulf, I'll give the translucent blurred layer a try (I'll need to read up on where that is and how to implement it first
). I use PhotoShop Elements 7.0 But this is great. I have an excuse to learn a new technique. By the way--and this is off the topic--but I've meant to tell you that your "High ISO" assignment (the shot of a witch hazel just beginning to bloom) convinced me that I had to get into macro shooting. It's such a gorgeous shot. (and it made me want to have one in the garden for next year!).