Gold Medal: Jens Christian Birck

Citation:
Your ruthless selection of hybrids and species has raised standards to lofty levels. Your rhododendron photography is unparalleled and available to one and all. Your keen, critical, hands-on observations of the genus Rhododendron question conventional wisdom. These insights you present clearly and irrefutably. You quietly and selflessly continue this pursuit of knowledge expecting nothing in return. You helped amass a world-class collection of wild collected hardy species and have promoted their use in public and private gardens for the world to enjoy. The Danish and South Swedish Rhododendron Chapters owe their formation to you.
        For your many accomplishments and innovations, the American Rhododendron Society is pleased to award the Gold Medal to Jens Christian Birck. May 2, 2009. Everett, Washington.