Very beautiful!
I would not have taken so much of ground thinking that it would spoil the photo. You proved it wrong.
Perhaps because of the texture it add a beauty and also gives the sense of depth. I love the colours and the composition! The gate looks like a face to me, with eyes nose and a mouth :-o
beautiful warm tones, wonderful texture of the ground, beautiful composition. I especially like the symmetry of the trees and how they frame your subject. Very well done!