About GrandMother Nature, aka Thea Nicholas
I am a life-long learner who has explored, pursued and shared with others about GARDENING, HEALING and LEARNING for over 40 years. Now I want to share some of what I have learned with you, too.
I learned to garden and love God when I was 5 years old. My beloved Grandmother shared with me her passions for gardening and wonder when, one day, she asked me to help her by planting some pansies along the back porch. Those little faces drew me into a world of joy, wonder and the excitement of possibility that has followed me all of my days.
I have created gardens wherever I have been. Sometimes because of life circumstances, the gardens were within me; at other times, the gardens came to life in more traditional forms. The overarching theme has always been of a nurturing, exploration and discovery process for understanding and for growth, both of plants and on a personal level.
My journey thus far has led me along paths of education, teaching, preaching, counseling, parenting, grandmothering, befriending and mentoring. All of those myriad pathways blossomed into beautiful insights to a world of joy, wonder and the excitement of possibilities that belong to all of us. “Imagination is Evidence of the Divine” said Dante. By opening myself to wonder, beauty and joy of the created world and the Creator of the world, I have come to know in my own way that Dante is exactly right. Come, imagine with me and seek to know for yourself that Beauty, Joy Wonder and the Excitement of Possibility are yours, too.
I have a B.S. in Speech Therapy & Audiology from Michigan State University, and a M.A. in Theology and the Arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. I also am a certified Horticultural Therapist (Denver Botanical Gardens), Spiritual Director (Christos Center for Spiritual Formation), Master Gardener (ISU Extension Service), Pastoral Care Specialist (Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center), and Compassionate Care Specialist (Institute of Compassionate Presence). I am a member of the American Folklore Society, American Horticultural Therapy Association, Iowa Holistic Healers, and Flower Essence Society.
Affiliated with CultureAll
Find me on LinkedIn
Visit my "Educational Entertainment in Des Moines" page on Gig Salad
Watch a video interview with me about my approach to storytelling:
Visit my other website, PleasantAerie.com, for garden and arts programming geared toward adults.
Testimonials
I knew Thea before she "became" Grandmother Nature. As I look back on our friendship, I can see that Grandmother Nature is just who she has always been! When I and my husband first met her, we were intrigued and enchanted by the many stories she shared about her life and, especially, about the beauty of her gardens. Her love of gardening was contagious, and we have been inspired to cultivate our own gardens--exterior, as well as interior. May she continue to inspire many new generations of nature lovers and gardeners. —Dawn, Urbandale, Iowa
