Crop circles

A traditional dish garden is small and highlights miniature, jewel-like plants. Utilizing rocks and moss in contrasting colors, these fun alternatives make an artful addition to your patio or deck.

HOW TO MAKE ONE

1. Using terra-cotta bowls with drainage holes ― we chose 6- and 12-inch shallow ones ― as guides for circles and a metal ruler to trace stripes, cut mud flats of groundcover such as deep green Irish moss and/or golden green Scotch moss with a paring knife.

2. Fill bowls with potting soil and plant groundcover.

3. To add a circle or spiral of polished stones, arrange them on the groundcover and cut guidelines around them.

4. Remove the stones, cut out a channel between the guidelines, then replace the stones. Keep dish garden out of full sun and water once a week. Diluted plant food will help keep it green.