i found this in a sunset magazine, they're really pretty and look relatively simple to make. (see picture i posted)

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 dish gardens:
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 ground cover such as deep green irish moss and/or golden green Scoth moss with a paring knife.

2. Fill bowls with potting soil and plant groundcover.

3. To add a circle of 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.