Even if you don't have a patch of ground, you can quickly create an indoor dish garden to brighten your home or give as a living gift. Small specimens of cactus and succulents are ideal for these tabletop gardens, and many plants can coexist happily in the same container.

Part of the fun in designing a miniature garden is choosing among myriad plants, pots, and textured mulches. Cactus and succulents have shallow roots and don't need deep containers. We used rectangular ceramic pots 3 inches deep, 6 1/2 to 8 inches wide, and 9 to 11 inches long. One dish takes about 20 minutes. Cost starts at about $20.