Isn't this small tropical paradise realistic? Not only is it a living miniature garden, it's very easy (and fun) to make. So - if you fancy having a go, get set to get your Finger Tips dirty! Start off with a plastic gardening tray. Any size will do, but the bigger the tray, the bigger your tropical paradise will be! Start by putting a deep layer of sand in the tray. Follow that with a deep layer of soil in a crescent shape around one side of the tray. Add the swimming pool next! - this is nothing more than an empty margarine tub! Once it's in position, fill the area around it with some more sand. For the plants, vegetable tops work best. But because most supermarket vegetables come with the tops already removed these days, you'll have to grow your own! Root vegetables like carrots and parsnips work well - just chop the tops off, put them in a saucer of water, and watch them grow! When the vegetable tops have sprouted, plant them in the soil. They'll even continue to grow while they're planted in your miniature tropical paradise. So because your miniature paradise is a living one, why not plant some seeds too? Grass and cress seeds work really well - just sprinkle a few in the soil. The cress seeds will grow in less than a week! Add water to the swimming pool now. Give it that authentic swimming pool look by adding a small amount of blue food colouring. You could make a diving board for your pool from two or three lolly sticks taped together, secured in place with a lump of modelling clay. A pair of cocktail umbrellas will give added realism! Plus, if you've got some old fur fabric lying around, stick it to the top of a cut-open and painted yoghurt pot to make a beach hut! And you can even make little beach towels from pieces of kitchen roll! And remember, your miniature garden needn't be a tropical paradise. Why not experiment with other ideas - how about a desert scene with cacti and sand, a swap with moss, pond and watery plants, or a jungle with big leafy plants and rocks. Or you could mix-and-match and use your imagination to create something that looks alien! Oo-er!