diff --git a/assets/js/components.js b/assets/js/components.js
index f688c4d..f99d86a 100644
--- a/assets/js/components.js
+++ b/assets/js/components.js
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ const GROUND_SPEC = {
 // desert-green, parasol warm, boat sail-coloured, etc. Run through the cycle
 // (objTone) at render time so they darken at night, warm at sunset, etc.
 const MATERIAL = {
-  oak: '#4f7d39', pine: '#356040', bush: '#5a8a44', hedge: '#4c7a3e',
+  oak: '#4f7d39', pine: '#356040', bush: '#2e5218', hedge: '#4c7a3e',
   cactus: '#5f8a4a', palm: '#4a7d3e', parasol: '#bb5a46', reed: '#74803c',
   boat: '#ccc4ad',
 };
@@ -540,19 +540,23 @@ export function ScopeReticle({ value, cat, loading, elev = 0, dt = new Date(), g
   // running instead of restarting (which looked like the clouds shaking).
   const cloudDim = isDay ? 1 : 0.55;   // moonlit clouds read dimmer at night
   function buildCloudLayer(cov, yBand, scale, durSec, seed, key) {
-    if (cov == null || cov < 8) return null;
-    const f = Math.min(1, cov / 100);
-    const count = Math.round(1 + f * 3);             // 1..4 sprites
+    // Always render the maximum 4 sprites so existing <image> elements persist
+    // in the DOM and their opacity can CSS-transition instead of blinking in/out.
+    const maxCount = 4;
+    const f = cov != null ? Math.min(1, cov / 100) : 0;
+    const activeCount = (cov != null && cov >= 8) ? Math.round(1 + f * 3) : 0;
+    const baseOp = Math.min(0.9, (0.22 + f * 0.6) * cloudDim);
     const w = 92 * scale, hh = 48 * scale;
-    const op = Math.min(0.9, (0.22 + f * 0.6) * cloudDim);
     const imgs = [];
-    for (let k = 0; k < count; k++) {
-      const px = (seed * 47 + k * (200 / count)) % 200;
+    for (let k = 0; k < maxCount; k++) {
+      const px = (seed * 47 + k * (200 / maxCount)) % 200;
       const py = yBand + (((seed + k * 7) % 12) - 6);
+      const spriteOp = k < activeCount ? baseOp : 0;
       [px, px + 200].forEach((X, j) => {
         imgs.push(html`<image key=${k + '-' + j} href=${CLOUD_IMG}
           x=${(X - w / 2).toFixed(1)} y=${(py - hh / 2).toFixed(1)}
-          width=${w.toFixed(1)} height=${hh.toFixed(1)} opacity=${op.toFixed(2)}
+          width=${w.toFixed(1)} height=${hh.toFixed(1)} opacity=${spriteOp.toFixed(2)}
+          style="transition:opacity 2s ease"
           preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" />`);
       });
     }
@@ -1006,11 +1010,11 @@ export function ScopeReticle({ value, cat, loading, elev = 0, dt = new Date(), g
           <circle cx=${cx} cy=${cy} r=${lensR} />
         </clipPath>
         <linearGradient id="scope-lens-sky" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
-          <stop offset="0%"   stop-color=${skyTopTint} />
-          <stop offset="100%" stop-color=${skyBotTint} />
+          <stop offset="0%"   stop-color=${skyTopTint} style="transition:stop-color 2s ease" />
+          <stop offset="100%" stop-color=${skyBotTint} style="transition:stop-color 2s ease" />
         </linearGradient>
         <linearGradient id="scope-lens-grass" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
-          ${groundStops.map((s, i) => html`<stop key=${i} offset=${s.off + '%'} stop-color=${s.col} />`)}
+          ${groundStops.map((s, i) => html`<stop key=${i} offset=${s.off + '%'} stop-color=${s.col} style="transition:stop-color 2s ease" />`)}
         </linearGradient>
         <!-- Soft scrim behind the readout so the numbers stay legible over busy ground -->
         <radialGradient id="scope-readout-scrim" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse" cx=${cx} cy="142" r="50">
@@ -1065,7 +1069,8 @@ export function ScopeReticle({ value, cat, loading, elev = 0, dt = new Date(), g
         <circle cx=${cx} cy="142" r="50" fill="url(#scope-readout-scrim)" />
         <g key="scope-wx">
           ${cloudLayers}
-          ${fogAlpha > 0 && html`<rect x="0" y="0" width="200" height="200" fill=${`rgba(${fogColor},${fogAlpha.toFixed(2)})`} />`}
+          <rect x="0" y="0" width="200" height="200" fill=${`rgb(${fogColor})`}
+                opacity=${fogAlpha.toFixed(2)} style="transition:opacity 2s ease" />
         </g>
       </g>
       ${(() => {