My Sweet Autumn Clematis was a beautiful profusion of white flowers one day and stripped of every leaf and flower the next!! I did not see any kind of insect...it was just totally stripped. What could have happened and how do I prevent it from happening next year?

More than likely it was a catepillar that will soon be putting a smile on your face as a beautiful butterfly. I know that's no consulation but unless you're outside at night with a flashlight to pick them off you may not be able to catch them.