It is nice to have a question distinct from the usual "what should I plant along the house foundation?" Yes, this old rockhound/fossil hunter is familiar with the area you describe. I will attempt to point you in the right direction, leaving you with some homework to do. 1. Two plants of deciduous Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata) planted at the top will quickly cover the entire rock face. An easy solution. 2. You mention climbing roses. Google "shade climbing roses" and you will note a number of useful varieties. My thought would be to plant them at the base of the slope and peg each branch into the shale where they would take root and continue up the slope. Or, you could use the same approach planting from the top. As you study rose varieties be aware of which ones are very disease resistant. This will lead you to some of the newer varieties of which Peter Mayle is my favorite. A clean, green climber. You also have to consider that most roses, excluding some of the the old fashioned ramblers need some pruning. Turn to the Rose Forum people for varieties to select that will not require you to be a mountain goat. 3. Before planting Clematis is is important to understand that the family is organized into 'groups'. Check the A-Z ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDEN PLANTS for a better understanding of this. Basically you want the Clematis groups that bloom on old wood and never need pruning. The expert posters on the Clematis Forum will guide you to the right varieties if you explain to them what you are trying to accomplish. Again, Clematis could be started at the slope base and pegged upward or also from the top. 4. Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala peteolaris) is often mentioned as a shade vine. I would not plant it on the rock face. Rather suggest that it be planted at the base of trees on the slope (one plant to a tree) where in will climb up into the branch canopy and in time blooms will cascade from the branches. A stunning effect in garden design which ought be used more often. It should only be planted on trees with smooth bark. 5. Grape vines cascading over the slope is another thought. Do not plant the very invasive Trumpet Vine. Do not plant Dutchman's Pipe (Aresalchia littoralis) if grandchildren will be visiting. A beautiful vine which could work well for your situation. However, the seeds are poisonous to little ones.

Lori, very easy. They are latex molds; re-usable. Because you are actually pouring the mixture into the mold which is upside down (head first), it will come out like one whole rock, not flat like my angel is. It wasn't a sand cast project. The mold comes with a back up and you sit the latex in that to hold it upside so you can fill it. To make sure it would not tip over until the cement set, I put the mold in the back up, over the top opening of an unused flower pot. Done the next day. You just slip the latex off. You can search 'rock mold' or 'rock face' mold on eBay. I purchased the mold.

This is a renovation question. Ask it on the renovation forum explaining it's also here. It would be installed as any wood mantle would be. Rather than just screwing the backer plate that the mantle is attached to into the dimensional lumber in the wall use Tapcon masonry screws and PL to fasten the plate to the rock. I really can't see in the dark pic if that area is flat or not. Have you asked your carpenter how to do this? If he or she doesn't know what I'm talking about he or she isn't a carpenter.

I haven't got a vertical rock face but I do have a north-facing wall which is rather ugly between my house and my neighbour which is north facing and in a very small space of soil have been very successful with a climbing hydranger which literally took off ready to cover the whole house and my neighbour's too! It is covered each summer with masses of creamy lacecap type flowers. It's quite easy to prune back a and control but has disguised the ugly wall really well. Note that it does lose it's leaves each winter. Hope this is of help.