They took Henry away | Live. Travel. Play.

I can’t believe it. The Canadian government took Henry away at the Port-Aux-Basques ferry terminal, before we boarded the overnight ferry from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia. It was the last place I thought they would confiscate our plant.

We crossed the Canada-US border twice and entered Newfoundland without incident, so the Plant Quarantine Inspection Station caught us by surprise. They inspected the van and asked us if we had any plants or soil in our vehicle. I didn’t have time to hide Henry and we didn’t think it was a good idea to lie to the government. So we had to give him up.

The inspector was nice enough to let me take one last picture of Henry and to say goodbye. Then he went away with our plant and, after a few minutes, he returned Henry’s pot back to me.

Once we parked in the ferry lineup, I looked down at the empty pot and started to cry. I felt terribly guilty and regretful. I wish we had turned around and threw Henry into the sea, instead of letting him end up in a government-issue garbage bin. He deserved better.

We are now on the ferry to North Sydney – without our brave little plant.

15 thoughts on “They took Henry away”

Kira August 26, 2011 at 11:12 am

Way to go border security. Sad day for henry

Tuan August 8, 2011 at 9:06 am

That is sad to know Henry came to an end like this.

Janice Post authorAugust 9, 2011 at 7:06 pm

Yes. I just remembered how beautiful and well-cared-for your garden plants were. Perhaps we should have left him in Montreal.

Tim August 5, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Perhaps Henry is here……

http://library.fws.gov/IA_Pubs/plant_rescue03.pdf

Gregor August 5, 2011 at 4:34 pm

Tim, thats only for US plants. Henry was Canadian. Sigh.

Tim August 5, 2011 at 2:38 pm

I cry!

Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 8:08 pm

Me too! He seemed to enjoy being in the van with us. He didn’t do so well whenever we moved him to a hotel room or to someone’s house or to another car. Crazy.

Becky August 4, 2011 at 5:58 pm

NOOOOOO! Poor Henry! We will have to have a little wake for him when you get home. I did like the “free willy”after thought though… I love the visual of you throwing the plant into the water – “Run Henry! Run”…

Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Ack – I’m getting all verklempt just thinking about it!

Mel S August 4, 2011 at 2:19 pm

That is the saddest thing I have ever read about a plant…Canada does not like to let things off the island…the government of Newfoundland would have let it go with out incident.
P.s: I want to see pictures from Gros Morne

Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 7:59 pm

First the cod fishery, now pet plants…What will they take away next?

Gros Morne pics are up!
http://livetravelplay.ca/2011/08/07/gros-morne-national-park-nl/

Janice S. August 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Oh, no!! Poor Henry. I’ll miss that little guy.

Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 7:58 pm

We miss him, too. We hung his empty pot in the van to remember that this trip is not all about us.

Cheryl August 4, 2011 at 12:10 pm

I said a little prayer for Henry.

Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 7:56 pm

Thanks Cheryl. He was a good plant.

Kira August 26, 2011 at 11:12 am

Way to go border security. Sad day for henry
Tuan August 8, 2011 at 9:06 am

That is sad to know Henry came to an end like this.
1. Janice Post authorAugust 9, 2011 at 7:06 pm
  
  Yes. I just remembered how beautiful and well-cared-for your garden plants were. Perhaps we should have left him in Montreal.
Tim August 5, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Perhaps Henry is here……

http://library.fws.gov/IA_Pubs/plant_rescue03.pdf
1. Gregor August 5, 2011 at 4:34 pm
  
  Tim, thats only for US plants. Henry was Canadian. Sigh.
Tim August 5, 2011 at 2:38 pm

I cry!
1. Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 8:08 pm
  
  Me too! He seemed to enjoy being in the van with us. He didn’t do so well whenever we moved him to a hotel room or to someone’s house or to another car. Crazy.
Becky August 4, 2011 at 5:58 pm

NOOOOOO! Poor Henry! We will have to have a little wake for him when you get home. I did like the “free willy”after thought though… I love the visual of you throwing the plant into the water – “Run Henry! Run”…
1. Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm
  
  Ack – I’m getting all verklempt just thinking about it!
Mel S August 4, 2011 at 2:19 pm

That is the saddest thing I have ever read about a plant…Canada does not like to let things off the island…the government of Newfoundland would have let it go with out incident.
P.s: I want to see pictures from Gros Morne
1. Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 7:59 pm
  
  First the cod fishery, now pet plants…What will they take away next?
  
  Gros Morne pics are up!
  http://livetravelplay.ca/2011/08/07/gros-morne-national-park-nl/
Janice S. August 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm

Oh, no!! Poor Henry. I’ll miss that little guy.
1. Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 7:58 pm
  
  We miss him, too. We hung his empty pot in the van to remember that this trip is not all about us.
Cheryl August 4, 2011 at 12:10 pm

I said a little prayer for Henry.
1. Janice Post authorAugust 7, 2011 at 7:56 pm
  
  Thanks Cheryl. He was a good plant.