Abstract: A concrete block structure useful in forming a retaining wall having upwardly open openings to facilitate planting plants therein. The block has an upright front wall, laterally spaced side walls joined to the front wall, and an upwardly open interior, the side walls having upwardly open and laterally aligned grooves formed in them, and a rod received within the grooves and protruding laterally beyond each side wall. A flexible anchor sheet having a forward edge portion may extend along and above at least two adjacent blocks of the course, the anchor sheet being attached to the rod and extending rearwardly over an upper surface of the rear wall for anchoring reception in an embankment against which the blocks are placed.

Abstract: A method for creating decorative patterns on surfaces of cured concrete blocks includes a plurality of texturing elements secured to one or more rotatable shaft via a plurality of flexible support cables. Upon rotation of the shaft, centrifugal force causes the secured texturing elements to radially extend from the shaft. The blocks are preferably positioned such that the rotating texturing elements repeatedly come into contact with particular surfaces of the blocks, thereby forming a textured or antiqued pattern on such block surfaces. In a particular embodiment, the rotatable shaft is reciprocally moved in a direction parallel to the block surfaces to be patterned, whereby an entire block surface is exposed to the rotating texturing elements.