It’s not unusual for devoted gardeners to share favorite plants and seeds with each other, even across international borders. When doing so, it’s extremely important that these items don’t harbor pests or diseases that could harm other plants or the environment. While the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Export Services staff mainly deals with commercial shipments, occasionally, we assist amateur gardeners with exchanging items internationally.
Last month I had the wonderful opportunity to help a noted Washington, D.C. couple, who are avid gardeners, take a special gift to their hosts across the Atlantic Ocean. During their May visit to the United Kingdom, President and Mrs. Obama presented Prince Charles of Wales and his wife Camilla, with a selection of 34 different types of plants and seeds from the gardens of Mount Vernon, Monticello and the White House.
