Yes, you are right. I remember driving to California many times. Our car was checked to make sure we didn’t bring in fruits of plants. One time driving from the east coast to California...I had a plant in a nice container that my mother had insisted I take back with us... :) God bless mothers. :) Anyway, they dumped my plant but gave me back my planter. Each time I look at that planter I think of my beloved mother who just want to give me “one more thing” to take back with us. :( :)
You were so lucky. It could have been full of POISONOUS SPIDERS!!!!!