THE DAILY LEADER / RACHEL EIDE / Carol Stockett (from left) and Beverly Ware with the Madison Garden Club get cups of pink lemonade at J. Allan’s Wednesday during the club’s tour of Brookhaven. A sign in front of the store (right) offers a welcome message for the group of more than 40 touring clubwomen.

Madison came to Brookhaven Wednesday as more than 40 members of a garden club from the trendy North Jackson suburb spent the day in the Homeseekers Paradise touring local gardens and various points of interest.

“We love Brookhaven,” said Madison Garden Club president Lynne Stillions after touring the Ole Towne Church with Mimi Zeini on South Jackson Street late Wednesday morning. “We have felt so welcome. It’s a hidden jewel.”

With Shirley Estes as their tour guide, the group also viewed homes and gardens on South Jackson and Church streets.

After seeing the restored church, the group took a few minutes to check out the shopping across the street at J. Allan’s. “We came to see the historic sites and gardens, but you’ve got to do a little shopping,” said Carol Stockett and Beverly Ware with smiles as they sipped cups of pink lemonade at the store.

“We take a bus trip every year,” Stillions explained, “and we thought where could we go this year?

“Kay (Burton at the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce) helped put us a whole agenda together and set us up with Shirley,” Stillions added.

The group’s schedule also included lunch at Pasta Junction, a tour of the Mississippi School of the Arts and a visit to Buds and Blooms.

Estes said Wednesday’s tour was the third group from Madison to visit the city recently as interest in Brookhaven as a destination seems to be growing. “We’re kind of on the map,” Estes said.