DAPHNE, Ala. — The Jefferson Family Education group from Jefferson Parish, La. stopped at flowers, etc! Tuesday for a luncheon honoring the special guests. The group works with New Orleans-area institutions to promote education initiatives and programs.

“We work with the LSU Agricultural School presenting programs in the school,” Wilma Oubre, scholarship chairperson, said.

“We encourage reading to newborns with our ‘Raise the Reader’ program,” Oubre said.

After spending the night in Fairhope, the group continued its tour with a visit to Bellingrath Gardens.

“The gardens were just beautiful,” a tour member said.

Other locations on the tour’s itinerary included the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, both in Mobile.

“We’re helping out the economy of Daphne,” Charlotte Upadhyay said.

The group maintains a special friendship with Martha Dwyer, former associate of the Jefferson Education group and wife of Edward K. Dwyer, a Daphne certified public accountant.

“She used to work with us,” Oubre said.

flowers, etc! treated the tour members to wine, punch and hors d’oeuvres; the group then ventured over to Something Sweet for dessert.

“We’ll be back,” a member yelled as the group walked to its tour bus and prepared for a long drive back to the Crescent City. “It’s beautiful here.”