Beautifying the Ugly

I can't say I find them ugly, but there are strange bud-like things in my backyard that appear dead.  They have a paper thin petal that looks like a dried autumn leaf, minus the vibrant colors.  I can only assume a few people would consider them ugly. 
I decided to do everything I could to make them beautiful.  Here is the result.  Did I succeed?

Reaching Bud

The color contrast and soft edges make the image much less offensive than the actual bud.