I wanted an alpine plant trough garden. First, I fell in love with the plants I had seen at the Philadelphia Flower Show, Wave Hill in Riverdale NY and Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Springs NY. Second, I knew the plants required sharp drainage, lean, gravely soil, and height or rocky isolation from the rest of the garden. Third, I had no one to lug 90 lbs. of concrete and the materials needed to fashion a trough. I had no access to a coveted stone trough or sink. Fourth, I decided to design a cinder block garden on my own terms. “They” said cinder blocks were too alkaline.

I did the sketch and researched how to wash the blocks. I found the recipe for the gritty soil mix.

Early planting included Rhodendron wren, Rhododendron ‘Chinzan’, Arabis, Lewisia and Stachys.

The Rhododendron ‘Chinzan’ is now 10 years old still living in its cinder block. 

Many years later I used Sedum tenatum, Antennaria (pussy toes), Stachys, Iris cristata, Lewisia (eventually eaten).

 
In another garden, I switched out violets and sometimes miniature bulb varieties and Tiarella cordifolia. Lilly of the valley is encroaching relentlessly.
 
On to the roses:
 I wanted to grow roses but “they” said roses won’t grow in the shade. Then I read Margery Fish’s Gardening In The Shade. Yes, some roses can grow in the shade and she listed varieties.
 
 
Here’s Mdm. Gregoire Staechelin under a swamp maple, facing west. “They” said roses can’t be grown under trees as they’ll suck up the water and nutrients in the soil.
 
 
Here’s Alberic Barbier under trees facing west with Mrs. Herbert Stevens to his right. “Too close to breathe and bloom.”
 
Zephirine Drouhin and Royal Gold under an oak tree, next to a neighbor’s fence, grabbing whatever sunlight they can. They” said nothing should grow around the base or create competition. I planted iris and tulips underneath.
 
 
This is another view with ‘Dr. Huey ‘Shafter’ on the left, who was a rootstock grafted on to departed rose. It is hard to see, but there’s a Lonicera, coral honeysuckle, intwined in the middle. As a side note, all the other roses are own root.
 
“They” said never use raw vegetable material as fertilizer. A successful roses grower used vegetable/fruit scraps thrown directly on the rose bed. So I did, and the roses thrived. The scraps must keep the soil moist and fertile as they decompose.
 
Let’s ignore the doomsayers and rigid doctrines and follow our heart’s direction, to let us sink or swim in the pleasure of our own escapades in our own personal gardens.