Galaxy Garden: Kona Hawaii

I would want to visit this even it if weren't in Hawaii:  http://www.galaxygarden.net/index.html

So, how would one do something like this in a tiny suburban backyard?  Miniature sedums?  Herbs? 

Come March when it's time to actually do the work, I will of course abandon this project as hopelessly time-consuming.  But in January gardens in Chicago are theoretical and hence all things are possible.