Hi, I'm new here

<post deleted>

Welcome to the IBC. Take some pictures so we can share in your joy.

Oh, you bet!
Maybe as an avatar... ?

welcome to the family!!!

BonsaiGirl wrote:I fell in love with their Japanese Apricot the minute I saw it. It just came today in *perfect* condition. It is so beautiful! You should see the blossoms!

Where are you keeping it? It is an outdoor tree. Keep it as cool as possible until you can put it outside.
Iris

I am interested to find out how a tree from China can be imported into your home country? You do not say if you are based in Europe, the UK or US. or some other country? My understanding is that it is impossible to get Ume from Japan or China into the US. Impossible - even with quarintine. So if you got one - OK - but you may have violated many laws in the process. Like I said - not sure where you reside - but I called the toll free number on your link just for fun. The owner in China is not aware of custom and US Agriculture rules. The buyer must be aware. The buyer is held responsible. Big fines are possible. I do not mean to be melodramatic - just very surprised. Maybe you live in China? OK then no rules violated. Tom.

OK..my mistake..I see you are in Mass., USA. My comments are valid.

tom tynan wrote:I am interested to find out how a tree from China can be imported into your home country? You do not say if you are based in Europe, the UK or US. or some other country? My understanding is that it is impossible to get Ume from Japan or China into the US. Impossible - even with quarintine. So if you got one - OK - but you may have violated many laws in the process. Like I said - not sure where you reside - but I called the toll free number on your link just for fun. The owner in China is not aware of custom and US Agriculture rules. The buyer must be aware. The buyer is held responsible. Big fines are possible. I do not mean to be melodramatic - just very surprised. Maybe you live in China? OK then no rules violated. Tom.

OK..my mistake..I see you are in Mass., USA. My comments are valid.

Oh, wow... You talked to someone who didn't know the rules? The person I talked to said he was the owner and everything *was* legal, the trees were re-potted and certified.

Where are you keeping it? It is an outdoor tree. Keep it as cool as possible until you can put it outside.
Iris

Thanks for the info! We've had a warm winter, so it can be outside much of the time.

What did the certification say? What is exactly certified is what I'm trying to ask?

A "Big" Aloha to the IBC!! Enjoy!!

-Tim

Hi Tom... Thank you for an informative response. As you note, it is the purchaser who stands to lose for illegally importing bonsai. Confiscation is the tip of the iceberg. If a tree is found diseased or carrying a pest in the United States, USDA jumps in with both feet to destroy trees throughout an extensive surrounding area.

While the vendor (HB) has little legal risk in advertising, buyers should be extremely cautious. In the USA, you cannot legally import HB bonsai without a phytosanitary certification, which requires a 2-year quarantine. HB bonsai pose risk to other trees including those of your neighbors. USDA plant intradiction investigators are now aware of HB’s business, which puts US buyers at risk. Under law, it is the importer (purchaser) who is responsible & will suffer.

In China, problems with bonsai exports are acknowledged by professionals. Shanghai is among grower areas cited for exporting nematodes… and flowering bonsai are cited, as well:
- Nematode Problems of China Export Bonsai, January 2010
- Flowering Bonsai Nematode Control Measures, January 2010

Vendors who push export sales before nations agree that the risk is tolerable flaunt their greed & embarrass our international bonsai community. China's industry & government are working upon solutions to safely export bonsai, yet illegal imports toughen resistance by the US, Canada & Europe.

The certificate didn't get here yet...

The tree was shipped from within the US, can it be that everything is OK after all? That it's been here two years, etc.?

Maybe I'm just being naive and really did fall into a trap. I tend to believe things and couldn't imagine something might have been illegal.

Thanks for letting me know!

(BTW the Michael Combs quote is a great signature! Dogs are amazing!)

Hey BG...I am not sure what to tell you at this point...you have the tree so enjoy it. As far as certificates etc., the supplier is pulling your leg. The only trees imported into the US these days are pines; Jap. White Pine and Jap. Black Pine - they are quarintined here in the US for 2 years min. Korean Hornbeams used to be imported - but it seems that has stopped.
There are less than a dozen nurseries authorized to do this work by the USDA. The USDA does not travel to China to inspect trees.
Flowering Apricot or Prunus Mume is not allowed under any circumstance to be imported. It is considered a fruit tree -though that species does not "grow fruit." Think about the US fruit growers and the protection of their crop and that industry - big $$$$. No fruit trees or flowering trees are imported into US - that means no flowering quince, apple, hawthorne, plum, cherry, etc. These species have to be grown here in the US to use as bonsai material. They are available but you have to look and find them.
The price you paid was very low for a tree of that size quality - if it was legally imported [as an example] it would have cost 3 times the amount you paid. Why? Because someone cared for it for 2 years and out of the (50) that were imported only 1/2 or less survived if that.
Maybe this serves as a good lesson and buyer beware and all that. I think the site administator can close this thread if he feels we are done.....

We don't tend to close threads, unless they are leading up a blind alley. This one is productive, as it is allowing us to gather together all the information relevant to the import and export of trees. This is currently of great interest, due to the clampdowns on imports in many areas of the world.

Thanks for your valuable contribution.

On the web page of this company, there is a testimonial from "R Maggio USA" My Rochester buddy Ron Maggio says he never wrote it.
Iris.

tom tynan wrote:Hey BG...I am not sure what to tell you at this point...you have the tree so enjoy it. As far as certificates etc., the supplier is pulling your leg. The only trees imported into the US these days are pines; Jap. White Pine and Jap. Black Pine - they are quarintined here in the US for 2 years min. Korean Hornbeams used to be imported - but it seems that has stopped.
There are less than a dozen nurseries authorized to do this work by the USDA. The USDA does not travel to China to inspect trees.
Flowering Apricot or Prunus Mume is not allowed under any circumstance to be imported. It is considered a fruit tree -though that species does not "grow fruit." Think about the US fruit growers and the protection of their crop and that industry - big $$$$. No fruit trees or flowering trees are imported into US - that means no flowering quince, apple, hawthorne, plum, cherry, etc. These species have to be grown here in the US to use as bonsai material. They are available but you have to look and find them.
The price you paid was very low for a tree of that size quality - if it was legally imported [as an example] it would have cost 3 times the amount you paid. Why? Because someone cared for it for 2 years and out of the (50) that were imported only 1/2 or less survived if that.
Maybe this serves as a good lesson and buyer beware and all that. I think the site administator can close this thread if he feels we are done.....

I am so ashamed of having anything to do with these people...

BG, Don't get your nickers in a bunch. It's OK. Like someone else mentioned, "enjoy it". And, don't take the intensity of the thread to heart. We are passionate people and some of us have loads of information to relay when the time is right.

Think of it this way... You have been here less then a week and you have been able to become the catalyst for a discussion that has helped a lot of people (719 views) not make a mistake that might end up costing them.

Thank you for sharing your information with us and I hope to see a lot more from you.

Don't forget ENJOY!

-Joe

Well said Joe.

Its very sad to think about the greed among sellers but that is reality so we all bare with it. But if you are looking for some ume, check out Brent Walston's website at evergreengardenworks.com he has some great cultures that I think you would like. Good luck and welcome.

Luc

Bonsao Study Group had a very similar post.

From Bonsai Study Group:

Hi everyone!

I’m new on this forum, but I’m so excited I wanted to tell you about a wonderful new bonsai I just got.

I really, really wanted a Japanese Apricot, but had bad luck with orders that arrived in bad shape. Then my cousin told me to try <edited 'cause it smells spammy>. They have such beautiful specimens! I fell in love with their Japanese Apricot the minute I saw it.

It just came today in *perfect* condition. Not a leaf lost! It is sooo beautiful! You should see the blossoms. I’m so excited!

Apricots seem to be very popular.