Thanks to everyone who shared the lessons they learned from the 2009 gardening season. The winner’s number was drawn at random by the computer genius at Random.org.  Even though gardeners from around the country posted their comments, the winner lives in Denver, Colo.

Judy Lemieux is a licensed acupuncturist who enjoys photography as much as gardening and horticulture. Her garden taught her that she should be realistic about her watering habits and select plants that will survive our dry climate and her failure to water regularly.

This photo shows a corner of her garden that is flourishing with Russian sage, purple and white iris, agastache ‘Golden Jubilee’ and ‘Dimity’ knotweed.

“I seem to kill so many things with my forgetfulness to water,” Judy says.

“I’ve  had several beautiful pots die a sudden death from missing one day.  Now I plant pots with a variety of succulents and other extremely xeric plants that thrive on neglect.  As for the things I plant in the ground – if it can survive a summer with my erratic watering, it can stay, otherwise it goes.”