FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Cathy Allen
Founder, Friend Leaves
410-916-7043 l [email protected]

Miss Maryland and Friend Leaves Team Up for Groundbreaking Garden Show to Spotlight Mental Health and Nature’s Healing Power

New garden-focused segment blends beauty, wellness, and advocacy to promote mental health through nature.

Baltimore, MD – July 2025 — Maryland’s newest beauty queen and a trailblazing green advocate are coming together to deliver a message of hope, healing, and holistic wellness.

Pamela Blackmon, recently crowned Miss Maryland for America Strong 2025, and Friend Leaves LLC, a therapeutic horticulture firm founded by environmentalist Cathy Allen, are collaborating on the upcoming taping of “What’s Blooming in the Garden”—a groundbreaking garden-inspired segment filmed on the healing rooftop garden of Roberta’s House, a grief support center in Baltimore.

The segment aims to spotlight the connection between mental health and nature, sharing practical, inspiring ways green spaces can nurture emotional well-being. Featuring Pamela’s advocacy for her platform, Not Just Mental Health™, and Friend Leaves’ mission to use plants as pathways to peace, the show will highlight accessible solutions for stress reduction and community healing.

"Nature is a sanctuary for the mind and soul," said Cathy Allen, Founder of Friend Leaves and an award-winning environmentalist. “Through this collaboration, we’re merging beauty, wellness, and environmental stewardship to spark meaningful conversations about mental health.”

Pamela Blackmon echoed that sentiment:
"Mental health is more than a conversation—it’s an action. Partnering with Friend Leaves on this initiative allows us to show how green spaces and intentional self-care practices can restore balance and resilience.”

The filming will take place Monday, July 28, at Roberta’s House Rooftop Garden, a therapeutic space dedicated to those coping with loss and seeking peace. The segment will be shared across media platforms and will include opportunities for local sponsors to align their brands with messages of hope, healing, and empowerment.

About Friend Leaves LLC
Friend Leaves is a therapeutic horticulture company creating green spaces and experiences that serve as sanctuaries for both people and the planet. Through workshops, wellness programming, and community partnerships, Friend Leaves empowers individuals to cultivate resilience, reduce stress, and reconnect with nature.

About Pamela Blackmon
Pamela Blackmon is the reigning Miss Maryland for America Strong 2025. A certified life coach, speaker, and mental health advocate, Pamela’s platform, Not Just Mental Health™, promotes holistic well-being, empowerment, and community support. She will represent Maryland on the national stage at the Miss for America Strong Pageant in Las Vegas on August 25, 2025.

For press inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or to learn more about this initiative:
[email protected]
www.iamfriendleaves.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aspire Behavioral Connection Joins Forces with Friend Leaves’ Therapeutic Horticulture Movement

Baltimore, MD – May 2025 — In a time where mental wellness is more critical than ever, Aspire Behavioral Connection is taking a bold step forward by partnering with Friend Leaves LLC, a pioneering therapeutic horticulture company, to deliver nature-based wellness programming that supports emotional healing, creativity, and community connection.

This new collaboration brings therapeutic horticulture directly into mental health spaces, offering clients a grounded, sensory-rich experience that nurtures emotional regulation, mindfulness, and growth.

“This isn’t just about flowers or soil — this is about emotional restoration,”says Cathy Allen, Founder of Friend Leaves LLC and certified Master Gardener. “Our work supports mental health providers by creating safe, beautiful, nature-inspired spaces where clients feel grounded, creative, and empowered.”

Aspire Behavioral Connection’s leadership recognized the need for innovative, culturally-responsive programming that resonates with clients from all walks of life — especially those navigating trauma, recovery, or stress. Their partnership with Friend Leaves demonstrates a growing awareness that holistic, plant-based experiences can complement traditional therapeutic approaches in powerful ways.

Why This Matters:

Therapeutic horticulture is a proven intervention that reduces anxiety, improves mood, enhances self-regulation, and promotes connection. Friend Leaves tailors each experience to meet the emotional and cultural needs of its participants — offering care that is rooted in dignity, beauty, and joy.

This partnership signals a growing recognition among behavioral health providers that healing doesn’t always begin in conversation — sometimes, it starts with your hands in the earth and your heart in bloom.

About Friend Leaves LLC

Founded by award-winning environmentalist Cathy Allen, Friend Leaves LLC brings nature-based healing to mental health agencies, grief centers, eldercare homes, and youth organizations. Through therapeutic horticulture, clients explore emotional healing, mindfulness, and creative expression in welcoming, sensory-rich environments.

About Aspire Behavioral Connection

Aspire Behavioral Connection is a community-rooted mental health organization committed to providing holistic, person-centered support for individuals and families navigating emotional and psychological challenges.

To learn more, book a workshop, or explore a partnership:

[email protected]m
www.iamfriendleaves.com
@friendleaves IG

Media Contact:

Cathy Allen
Founder, Friend Leaves LLC
[email protected]
410-916-7043

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friend Leaves LLC Partners with Roberta’s House to Plant Over 1,000 Plants and Trees for Wellness

Baltimore, MD – April 2025 – Friend Leaves LLC, a therapeutic horticulture company led by award-winning environmentalist and master gardener Cathy Allen, is excited to announce its new partnership with Roberta's House. Friend Leaves will lead the initiative to create a rooftop garden, planting over 1,000 plants and trees aimed at fostering healing and wellness for individuals experiencing grief and loss.

Cathy Allen, founder of Friend Leaves LLC, brings over 20 years of environmental expertise to the partnership, emphasizing community outreach, sustainability, and wellness. Known for her leadership in environmental initiatives, including the planting of over 300,000 trees across Maryland, Allen has collaborated closely with mental health agencies and wellness professionals to integrate the therapeutic benefits of horticulture into programs supporting emotional well-being and recovery.

"Bringing nature into healing spaces helps individuals cope with grief, reduce stress, and find solace," said Cathy Allen. "The rooftop garden at Roberta’s House will serve as both sanctuary and testament to the profound impact of nature on emotional health."

The planting day will take place on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, where volunteers and community members will come together to plant over 1,000 plants and trees as part of this transformative project.

Friend Leaves LLC’s involvement in Roberta’s House’s rooftop garden underscores its commitment to promoting mental health through nature. The therapeutic horticulture services will provide a unique opportunity for individuals to engage with plants and nature, utilizing the garden as a space for reflection, healing, and connection.

For more information about Friend Leaves LLC and its programs, please visit www.iamfriendleaves.com.

Contact:
Cathy Allen
Founder & Therapeutic Horticulturist
Friend Leaves LLC
Phone: 410-916-7043
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iamfriendleaves.com