Getting em into Canada

[calvin_orchidL]

Hey everyone,

Under the new directive (as posted on the main page) it is now legal to import up to 50 orchids if they accompany the buyer with luggage. I was really excited about this, because one of my friends was making a trip down to Chicago and offered to pick up some plants for me from Oakhill! However, after e-mailing Oakhill, it seems that they don't do exports for small orders, or even pickups, likely because the CITES documentation is too bothersome to complete. The do export wholesale, but their wholesale package requires a minimum of 5 of each plant ordered - what am I going to do with 5 aerangis mystacidii

It's a little frustrating, because despite being able to bring back orchids from the US on shopping trips, it is unlikely that I will have the time to obtain the required CITES documentation (I know phytosanitary documentation is no longer required) before it's time to go home. And some nurseries just don't do it.

Just wondering what other Canadians have experienced since this new directive came into play. Ie - do you know any vendors who are ready to supply CITES? I'm heading down to the states this summer and was looking forward to bringing back some plants (all of them Appendix II - I only grow common stuff!) but CITES might just be getting in my way.

Ideas? I know group orders is an option and I plan on pursuing that as well, but it stinks being able to see all these plants and not being able to buy them...(I'm going to be passing by Santa Barbara on my way down from San Francisco to LA....and you know whats there ...although importing from california is another bucket of worms because of SOD.... )