Bright sunshine brought hot temperatures to the 2008 Coventry Garden Tour on June 29 , not the rain that had been feared by organizers for the one-day event which highlighted nine gardens of all different designs , sizes and separate horticultural vignettes throughout town .

The event , organized and run by the Coventry Garden Club , attracted hundreds of residents and visitors who began the day by picking up a map at the Garden on the Green on Route 44 across from Meadowbrook Plaza .

“ We hope that this tour helps people to develop a love for plants by letting them see a variety of gardens , ” said Carole Miller , Coventry Garden Club president . “ It may even take some of the mystery out of it . People should enjoy gardening , ” she said .

Miller , the owner of the 20-acre Topmost Herb Farm on North School Road , said that her gardens have evolved over the years, but in general , are very casual . In addition to the highly visible greenhouse , which houses a variety of herbs , perennials , annuals and vegetables , there are eight gardens on the property , including a vegetable garden .

“ People are usually proud of their gardens and want to share , ” Miller said , adding that she gets many ideas for her own gardens from fellow gardeners , including many highlighted on the tour .

“ Every time I go to a garden , I am inspired to go home and do something new , because as much as youthink youknow something about gardening , there is always someone who knows a little bit more , ” said Kim Stepule , a member of the Coventry Garden Club who was organizing refreshments at the Topmost Herb Farm .

Garden locations on the tour included “ Garden by the Lake” on Pine Lake Drive , “ Lawn Be Gone ! ” on Susan Lane , “ Asian Accents” on Mark Drive and “ Beds and Borders” on Brigham Tavern Road .

“ It is nice that someone can come through and enjoy my garden the way that I cannot see it because of all the work that I’ve done with it , ” said Sandra Buxton , whose Mark Drive garden was featured on the tour . “ It is nice that people are able to appreciate the work that went into it , ” she said .

The Coventry Garden Club was first organized by six town women in 1939 and has grown to include 41 members in 2008 , including five master gardeners and one master judge emeritus . The organization joined the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut , which aims to protect and conserve the state’s natural resources and heritage while promoting its civic beauty , in 1941 .

In keeping with a club mission which is civic-oriented , proceeds from the ticket sales for the Garden Tour will fund the Coventry Garden Club Scholarship , given to a student who is a resident of Coventry and pursuing an educational degree in a horticultural or related field , according to Miller .