Troughs

Troughs can be fun and are quite easy.

Whilst big, old stone troughs can be expensive and heavy there are plenty of small cheap ones available at garden centres. Some people even make their own by coating polystyrene boxes with cement.
They should have a hole in the bottom for drainage.
The soil can be ordinary potting compost but it is better if plenty if it has plenty of grit or gravel mixed into it.
As for plants most garden centres have small pots of saxifrages and veronicas.