Is That an Orchid in Your Carry-On or Are You Just Happy to Enter the US?

[jrodpad]

Quick question for the group.

I'm going to be heading down to Brazil in the next few weeks and I've already picked out a few orchid-related detours from our otherwise non-orchid travels. A few of the detours are vendors.

Is there any way to bring or send an orchid or two (or ten) back to the US? I'm assuming that I can't just put them in my luggage as there's a general restriction on bringing foreign plants/fruits/veggies back from a foreign country... but can they be shipped back? I've never had 'chids shipped into the country before. What's the procedure like? Is it wildly expensive? Is this something that I'd have to worry about or will the vendor generally take care of import/export issues?

It's going to be sweet, sweet torture if I can't get anything back home.

Thanks!

- J