A Decade in Bloom: Annual Plant Sale & Garage Sale Set for May 9, 8-11 a.m.

“Spring has sprung,” as the old saying goes, and that means preparations for the annual Motherhouse plant sale have begun! Mark your calendar on May 9th, 2026, for a shopping extravaganza! This year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual event, and Master Gardener Lyle Pounds has been here for each one.
It seems that Lyle has always been a gardener of sorts. “My dad always made me work in our garden growing up, and when I became an adult, I always had a garden of my own. I was also a commercial gardener for Swenson farms for a time, and when the position came about at the convent, I thought that it was a great opportunity,” he explains. Lyle was employed by the Sisters in 2013, and they sent him to the Master Gardener course in Salina, KS, through the K-State Extension office.
The hands-on training from years of gardening, combined with the knowledge from the course, certainly paid off. It is evident in the vegetable and flower gardens on the grounds of the Motherhouse, as well as in the variety of plants grown and cared for in the greenhouse and eventually displayed in the building or offered for sale at the yearly plant sale.
Lyle starts preparing for the sale “at least 9 months in advance. The hanging baskets are started at the end of January or beginning of February,” he explains. It could even be said it’s year-round, considering that he makes potting soil from compost made from kitchen scraps, egg shells, and coffee grounds from the Motherhouse. “One year, I had to pay so much for bags of potting soil that I decided that it was time to make our own. It takes around 9 months or so for everything to break down,” he said.
When asked about his favorite plant or flower, he replied, “Zinnias are probably my favorite flower. They’re so colorful and bloom for a long time, and really can take the heat and wind of the Kansas weather.”
According to Lyle, one of the most common mistakes that people make when caring for plants is overwatering. He says, “When we see that maybe a plant hasn’t been watered properly and is dry, we tend to overreact and water it too much. If the tips of a plant are yellow and then brown, that’s a sign of overwatering.” For less-than-successful gardening years, he advises, “Don’t give up! Every year is different. We’ve been dealing with a lack of rain for several years. Don’t get discouraged. The cycle of Mother Nature changes things.”
Lyle’s favorite part of working in the greenhouse is starting plants from seed or a simple cutting and watching their transformation over time. “The fun part for me is seeing a plant flourish and discovering what it grows into.”

From the beautifully variegated leaves of the Tradescantia Zebrina, tinted in purple, green, and silver, to the lush Boston and Asparagus Ferns, easy-going Airplane and Spider plants, and a variety of succulents, the sale has a wide selection to please every shopper. The challenge is sometimes choosing between favorites. For those unsure of their plant-care abilities, do not fear! Lyle is always available at the sale and is happy to offer his expertise in caring for your choice of plants, or even for the garden or plant you already have at home.

We’ll have almost 100 hanging plant baskets and 100 smaller pots available that day, which is conveniently scheduled for the Saturday before Mother’s Day, making a vibrant, healthy gift choice for some lucky moms.
If plants just aren’t your thing, you’ll still want to stop by, as our annual garage sale is scheduled in conjunction with the plant sale. Furniture, appliances, artwork, office supplies, and a whole lot of miscellaneous items will be up for grabs. Not only that, but a garage and bake sale is scheduled at the Manna House of Prayer on that same morning from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. One-of-a-kind items and the most delicious homemade baked goods are a great way to start the morning!
Proceeds from each sale go toward the Sisters’ care and their ministries.