"Cayman Islands orchids slated for the Chelsea Flower Show in London have been impounded in the Netherlands...
The Ghost Orchid and Wild Banana Orchid were to be an important part of the show... were prevented from being exhibited and auctioned because of... European regulations. ... the... flowers [plants] were impounded in the Netherlands by customs officials because of European regulations restricting the trade of rare and endangered species... An article in The Times online notes, "It would have been the first time that the ghost orchid was displayed at Chelsea and it is believed it would also have been its first showing in Britain. Ben de Lisi, one of Britain's leading fashion designers, has created a dress for the show, inspired by the flower." ... "Organisers of the Cayman Islands' Heritage Garden had sought special permission to take specimens for the ghost and banana orchids out of the country. . . An export licence was granted by the Cayman authorities but the rare plants now require an import licence under European rules. "Dutch Customs officials ordered the plants be impounded in the absence of suitable paperwork and the orchids are now expected to end up in a botanic garden in the Netherlands," said the article." URL : http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=1030805 ************* Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
