Those of us with limited gardening space and those who want a truly spectacular edible vining ornamental dance with glee at the thought of planting the outstanding English Red Runner bean (P. coccineus). I am awestruck from the moment I open the package and handle the large beautifully speckled pink and black seed. And the thought of what they will transform into on the tepees in my vegetable and flower gardens have me immediately grinning from ear to ear.

Pole beans, in general, are both beautiful and productive. Unlike bush beans, which come on all at once and require succession planting, pole beans keep yielding and yielding. Harvesting generally begins within 60 to 80 days after planting, continuing up until frost. They also provide a fast growing architectural specimen for the garden. The English runner bean is a magnificent climber that will quickly cover a porch, arbor or teepee with delightful red flowers and delicious edible beans.

Structures to support these beauties do not require an inordinate amount of work. I simply tie four six to seven foot saplings together with untreated twine about 5 inches from their tops, spread them out and sink them into a garden bed. To provide additional easy vertical access I run twine down from the top of the structure between the saplings and secure it in the ground with a 5" length of a medium gauge wire bent in a "U" shape, in effect stapling the twine into the earth for added support. Before you can say "Jack in the beanstalk," large lovely leaves appear sending up their runners which seem to have a mind of their own. They grab on and run! Brilliant red flowers appear quickly, and before you know it, the teepee is covered with beautiful blossoms and a delectable treat. Mother Nature's very successful way of multi-tasking.

The tepees look splendid in the vegetable garden, provide a lovely vertical focal point in the flower bed, and are, without a doubt, a wonderful addition to a child's garden. Last, but not least, the hummingbirds love them too!