I received some cuttings with inflos but didn't remove them. I was lucky because mine did produce lots of foliage along with the inflo and rooted within two months. If you don't have any foliage or roots you do need to remove the inflo so that the plant's energy can go to rooting instead of flower development. It's just so hard to cut off that inflo. There's no need to fertilize or water if there's no roots but you can mist the tips with water. The hotter it is the better for root development, especially bottom heat to warm the soil. Don't begin to water your plant until you have several large leaves. Good luck. Karyn

Kathy, I think, I like this Abracadabra more than the newer one :-)! I have never seen yours before, but it is an absolutely lovely rose. In the last two pictures it has just such a perfect form! Christina

Before PETA comes after me, it's zinc. :D It's from a 19th century boucherie chevaline or horse butcher shop in France. I purchased from a San Francisco antique store's website (The Butler and the Chef). Here's a photo of it from their website: I first saw one in the back of Veranda or Southern Accents. Called the antique store in Atlanta - 6K. :( I hunted and hunted and hunted until I found one semi-affordable without any damage (they have holes much of the time). It is the most expensive accessory I have ever purchased. We live in a horse community, so it's fitting.....and I counted it as a Christmas/Anniversary present. I can justify any purchase. lol At its new home: Someone suggested I buy more to go over the other doors. lol Don't think so. Less is more sometimes. imo, it's balanced out by the things above FP on other end of room. If you really want one, 1st dibs usually has several on their website. The first one is not a bad price - less than I paid - but it has some damage. The 6500 one on the red horseshoe is actually the one I saw in the magazine. I see they still haven't sold (and that was 2 years ago). I love the patina/paint on that one. :( Here is a link that might be useful: Zinc horse heads

Ok first, two grouts are incredibly easy :) My tile guy has done it all over the house for me...for instance, each row of this carpet has a different grout color: (this is pre grout by the way, but the grout is perfect in each row and matches exactly): So don't let that stop your decision. It's an easy process. They just apply blue tape where the grout isn't supposed to go, and then apply as usual. No biggie at all!!! Follow the manufacturer instructions! I did't know it was handmade. Mine is as well and there can be variation in both slope and size by very very little, but when you put up the tile, that variation becomes huge. 1/16th here and there isn't visable to the eye, until you try to make your poor tile guy do a 1/16th grout line. So go with the manufacturer recomendation. With larger grout lines, it's even more important to think of color of grout and again, I'd say use two. The reason being, look at my tile...if I'd used say a white or beige grout, (the grout is called Pear) the grout would scream at you, but the pear blends in pretty well. Big grey grout lines in the tan tiles isn't going to flow as well IMO.