So after successfully importing the first set of Wollemi Pine trees to the US, I decided that those first few would not be enough, especially since the hard part was over, and getting a few more was going to be quick and fairly easy.  Also,  several friends were also interested, and signed up to have there Wollemi Pine shipped in at the same time as my second order.  So the second set of Wollemi Pine trees arrived, and it turns out they were much bigger than the first ones.

So by the middle of Summer 2011, and the arrival of the second shipment, I was feeling a little nostalgic for the chase.  After all, this project had literally become a quest, an obsession, and now that I had imported successfully twice, it seemed like an empty spot in the psyche needed filling.

So the next logical thing to do, is study and record as much information as I can about the trees, as there is not a lot of information out there.  So I have started to log the Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine) progress, - note changes and quirks, and file away as much information as I can along with technical data notes, and lot of file photos.

And of course, the other logical thing to do was get back to the original quest to fill out the fossil and lazarus (extant) species display still happening, and another line of focus.  Now that importing has been figured out, how to search for, and legally import unusual and hard to find plants, The quest continues.  The two trees next on the list were just imported, and now on to the next on the list.

The search for Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine) in the US, took me to the import/export realm of business, and I started to research importing the trees myself.  This process can take several months, and as it turns out, even years.  

There are a lot of forms to apply for. There are regulations at the country of origin and at the US port of entry.  There are quarantine requirements. There are inspections.  There are fees for inspections, and import duties, export duties.  There is the price of the tree itself, and freight charges.  Live plants have another set of issues of their own.  Another set of forms, and another set of forms, and yet another set of forms.  Some are required at the place of origin, and some are required in the US.  And more contacts, more correspondence.  

Importing to the US can be done if one follows the procedures and meets all the requirements.   This paperwork process alone took almost 2 1/2 years.  Then it was down to locating trees available for export.

Sometimes, when I thought I was almost there, someone would bring up another form or condition that had to be met.  I included every new hoop in my list of things to have ready and available.  One person might say I needed one form, and another department would say “no , not that one, you need this one”.  So I filled out both.  As it came to the end, this came in handy.  

My trees were at the port of entry. and I provided one form, the one most people said was the right one.  And they said I needed a different one.  So I reached into my briefcase and provided the other form, already filled out and photocopied.  I was not about to be foiled at the last minute if I could do anything about it.  The trees passed all that was needed and required, and I was able to look at real Wollemi Pine, complete with all their unique original numbers and paperwork.

Wow.  The Wollemi Pine is among the most beautiful trees in the world.  It is so unusual and different that it really does seem like it stepped out of history, something that time had forgotten.


It worked! I have my very own Wollemi Pine!

Feel free to comment, I am looking forward to hearing from viewers.