Hmmm, I still have some green berries left, will have to look for rubber snakes. I do have a garter snake who lives in the garden but doesn't seem to bother the squirrels. Electric netting looks interesting - 28" tall and open at the top good enough? I'm assuming squirrels can't jump that high. I'm also going to build a chicken run (in my spare time LOL) and have the 4ft tall 23 mesh and some poultry wire (my uncle said put UNDER the run as well as over top to keep predators from digging). Electric might work there too? Except I would think you'd still need top (for hawks) and bottom (for foxes digging)... No one thinks I need to move the bed and try to bury the wire to keep the rodents out?

It looks like Clematis paniculata, Sweet Autumn Clematis to me.

I too am a planting rookie somewhat- I was hoping to grow some healthy producing strawberries in containers, since my soil is mostly clay and very poor. I already have had to replant one of them, I tried it in the clay and it did poorly. I have read through all the advice and it seems to differ... Should I pinch off the flowers and let it just grow? And should I be giving them plant food for veggies and herbs, or something else? They are in basic potting soil, do I need to add sand and compost? Any help would be great. Btw I am in Prescott Valley, so mid to high elevation if that matters.

I should add that I have been gardening for a long time, about 27 years, most of that time as a square foot gardener( I think I bought the first book when it came out!) at two houses. I have always had raised beds, but, never the exact ones I wanted or in the right configuration. Right now I have ten 2 x 7 s but they are starting to fall apart and need to be be redone. I also installed drip irrigation 2 years ago and that has been the single most amazing thing I have ever done!!! No weeds grew - it was unbelievable. The water is delivered in such a focused manner that the top soil stays dry and discourages weeds...so I didn't mulch - and had no slugs. Again, amazing! So, I have a BIG birthday coming up....and all I want is the perfect raised bed garden of my dreams: wood that never rots, automatic watering, and lots and lots of room to satisfy my craving for plants. Yeah. Now all I need is good trellising(which I have never been able to master) Amymhm- you are right about time for harvesting. I sometimes feel a little guilty about that. Picking beans takes a looooong time. And I do work full time. But, hey, it's a dream. Will keep you posted.