Penny: sounds like a good idea using the plastic mesh - wouldn't rust. We bought chicken wire yesterday - looked at the mesh - Payless had a bunch of different plastic meshes, and almost bought some, but Ray was worried about how well it would make into a "dome" for over the lettuce. Be he works with it today - stil trying to avoid doing the income tax. But the plastic mesh would be good to put over the pots on the deck - we just used chicken wire because I had some that I use around oasis when making large flower arrangements for weddings. Barb Barb Rothenberger Columbia, Mo. See our pictures of the Philadelphia flower show http://www.geocities.com/PicketFence/3257/