fore
Omono
Fore,
You are right, importing is a non-starter for the private individual. A few, very large bonsai nurseries now import, with rather strick isolation requirements. I believe trees need to be isolated in the US for one year, before they can be released to the public. This requirement is from the US gov, and is rather strict, and naturally pushes cost up. Somewhere in the last 5 years this started, and is to limit plant borne diseases/pests.
I bought this tree 5-6 years ago, about the time of the ban from a bonsai nursery, that imported before the ban. Today, some nurseries may have old imports acquired before the ban, far fewer still import (maybe as few as a dozen in the US, like Brussel's). The age is unmistakable, so today a private individual need go to a very large nursery that continues to import, or some old stock may be around at smaller nurseries, eBay etc. Consequently, available trees imported before the ban are few, and the cost naturally goes up.
I believe I paid $700 fo this tree, I don't believe you could find a comparable tree for less than $1000 today.
Best of luck, James
Thank You James for the information. Very interesting, and a bit depressing that importing has become so limited. I for one would love to buy one as you just don't see bonsai's like that here in the US much. But $700...wow, what a great price for such a fantastic aged Trident! I have to keep my eyes and ears open. Again, Thanks James! And Good Luck with your tree!
Chris