Livin’ on the edge…of the forest.

This will be the first in a series of blog posts on one of my favorite places in all the world!  Umatilla Florida!

This is my hometown. This is where my  business, my friends, my family and my heart are. I grew up here, literally.  I went to Mrs. Smith’s daycare on Kentucky ave. with my other friends that grew up here as well. Most of our parents worked at Golden Gem or one of the many packing houses or grove related businesses in Umatilla.

Umatilla has a rich history in the citrus industry and still has a operating packing house right here. Where most towns in Lake County have turned to tourism and look like Disney on any given Saturday, Umatilla remains pretty much the same,other than a few more traffic signals and a lot less packing houses.

If you venture way out here to Umatilla, it is about 6 miles north of  Eustis on state road 19.  I laugh when people say “oh you came all the way from Umatilla?” It really isn’t that far from our friends in ” The Golden Triangle” That would be Eustis, Mount Dora and Tavares.

Umatilla is truly a unique and very small town. We have three great schools. Elementary, Middle and High. We have a historical school house that is home to our museum. The museum is a great adventure to explore more of Umatilla’s history .  Their hours are noon- 4PM  Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

My shop is located in downtown and sits right next door to our great community newspaper The Northlake Outpost. It is published weekly and covers all the activities in Umatilla and the surrounding area. Always something interesting in The Outpost.

Join me next week for more about life around the flower shop and our little town on the edge of the forest!