Jeanine Smith is a gardener in Woodenville, Washington, an eastern suburb of Seattle. Being much more than an ordinary gardener, however, she has, with her husband Rex, developed a beautiful 3-acre woodland garden with an emphasis, naturally, on rhododendrons. She is also one of those people we all know who propagate rhododendrons extensively, many more than she is able to use herself. The garden has been featured, most deservedly, in several books and magazines.

Jeanine has a very high profile with the American Rhododendron Society, of which she has been a member for over thirty years. She has served as President of the Seattle Chapter, the Seattle Rhododendron Society, Director of ARS District 2, and ARS Western Vice-President. She is a recipient of the Bronze Medal and is presently Chair of the ARS Honors Committee.

Popular as a speaker, she has spoken, with considerable knowledge and charm, to local nurseries, to various ARS chapters – including the VRS a few years ago, on the development of her garden – to ARS national and regional conferences, and in New Zealand.

Recently Jeanine has toured the rhododendron country in Sikkim, and it is on this expedition she will be lecturing to the VRS the evening of September 19th on 'Sikkim Adventure 2002'.