On Saturday, May 15th, nineteen members and friends of the Pictona Garden Club visited Common Ground Farm in DeLand. After arriving and gathering the group together, co-owner Pat Joslin gave us an introduction to the farm's founding and a brief history of its evolution into the successful venture it is today. Then, Pat's husband and fellow co-owner, John, gave our Club a wonderful in depth tour of the entire farm. We learned what crops they grow, how they conduct their hydroponics, and how they manage their collaborative efforts with their own members and surrounding farms. Finally, we ended our tour at the farmer's market and purchased a wide variety of goodies to take back home to Pictona. It was educational and a lot of fun! 

The Pictona Garden Club's Social Committee organizes field trips for the Club's members and friends. If you're interested in joining the Pictona Garden Club (free) and participating in our activities, contact Rynn at rynng@pictona.org or 386-238-9276.

Thanks to the generous donations of Pictona members and friends, the FHCP / Pictona Blood Drive with One Blood was a great success! In a time of low blood donation reserves in Florida and across the nation, we had hoped for 10 donors over the five hours the Big Red Bus was here ... instead, we had 17 donors! Each donation can save up to three lives, so that's as many as 51 lives saved. 

Way to go, Pictona!

As part of the ongoing FHCP Wellness Workshop series on Tuesdays at 11 am in the FHCP SAC, Master Gardener Russ Royce gave an insightful presentation on gardening in Florida and what it takes to start a community garden. After answering specific questions from participants during the Q&A session, Russ led the group on a tour of the Humana Community Gardens at Pictona, showcasing the Children's Garden, the Hydroponic Garden and the individual rental plots. It was an awesome and very educational morning - thank you, Russ!

Join us on Monday, May 10th at 12:30 pm out at the S.R. Perrott Pavilion for a FREE exercise workshop with AdventHealth's Wellness Center Manager, Shelli Reinhardt. Titled Strength and Cardio Fitness, this active one-hour class combines resistance training, functional exercises and light cardiovascular training with post-workout athletic stretching. Come to the Pavilion at 12:30 after a few games of Pickleball to top off your morning workout while learning exercises you can do on your own to achieve your best physical performance. If there is rain, we'll move this workshop to the SAC.

Registration is not required. Contact Rynn (386-238-9276; rynng@pictona.org) if you have any questions. We hope to see you there! 

Pictona, in partnership with Florida Health Care Plans and One Blood, will host a Blood Drive at Pictona on Saturday, May 8 from 9 am - 2 pm. The "Big Red Bus" will be parked right out front of Pictona beside the Chamber building on Ridgewood. Appointments are available now, and walk-ins are also welcome. All donors will receive a OneBlood T-shirt, a $10 eGift card, and a wellness checkup including: Covid-19 antibody test, blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening!

Appointments are encouraged (but not required). You can reserve an appointment time here.

Contact Rynn if you have any questions (rynng@pictona.org). Donate blood at Pictona to help save lives in our community!

In addition to preparing seeds and planting crops and monitoring growth, our gardeners go the extra mile for Pictona. When the towers need to be cleaned ... Pictona Garden Club to the rescue! These members generously volunteer their time to keep our towers clean and the greens healthy, allowing The Kitchen to continue to serve the freshest salads in town. Thank you, gardeners, for investing your time and energy in the success of the Humana Community Gardens and making our Hydroponic Garden a source of pride at Pictona and in Holly Hill!

Rec Games Nights occur on Mondays at 6:15 pm. All games - Shuffleboard, Croquet, Horseshoes, Bocce and Cornhole - are available to play, and we feature a rotating “Game of the Night,” from which we crown each week’s champion (and award a snazzy certificate). Everyone is welcome to come out and join us, so feel free to bring friends!

This weekly event is completely FREE. We invite you out to the Rec Courts on Mondays at 6:15 pm to enjoy these summer evenings and make Rec Games Night a part of your weekly Pictona experience!

Do you work during the day and crave a fitness class you can take on your way home from work? Do you prefer evening workouts as opposed to mornings? Would you like to pair a night of pickleball with an enriching fitness class for a full body, well-rounded workout?

Well, we've got you covered! Kundalini Yoga, with certified instructor, Bob Van Twyver, is now on the SAC schedule and will take place on Wednesdays at 6 pm. Click on the link above to learn more about Bob, find out all relevant details, and register for this exciting new fitness class at Pictona!

Registration is encouraged to secure your spot in the class. Contact Rynn at rynng@pictona.org or 386-238-9276 if you have any questions.

Join us on Monday, April 19th at 12 pm out at the S.R. Perrott Pavilion for a FREE exercise workshop with AdventHealth's Wellness Center Manager, Shelli Reinhardt. Titled Strength and Cardio Fitness, this active one-hour class combines resistance training, functional exercises and light cardiovascular training with post-workout athletic stretching. Come to the Pavilion at noon after a few games of Pickleball to top off your morning workout while learning exercises you can do on your own to achieve your best physical performance.

Registration is not required. Contact Rynn (386-238-9276; rynng@pictona.org) if you have any questions. We hope to see you there! 

Join senior fitness specialist, Artie G., for FHCP Pilates at Pictona every Friday at 11 am in the SAC. Focusing on abs, glutes, arms and legs, you will increase core strength, flexibility and mobility - all attributes that contribute to both pickleball success and general physical wellness. Sessions will take place primarily on the floor (BYOM - Bring Your Own Mat) and will last approximately forty-five minutes.

FHCP health insurance and Pictona membership are not required to participate in this class, which is open to the public. Find more information and register here!