To share the joy of gardening with your children, grow a beanpole tepee. When late summerarrives, big and little hands can pitch in to pick tasty beans.

Tepee Time
Begin by staking five 8-foot-long cedar branches or 6-foot-long bamboo poles into the ground, creating a circular pattern about 10 feet wide.

Leave a gap of about 4 feet within the border of the circle to later use as an entryway. Next, gather the tops of the poles together, and secure the entire tepee from top to bottom with a web of strong wire or twine.

Poke holes 1⁄4 inch apart along the perimeter of the circle--everywhere except where the entry will be--and fill them with pole bean seeds.

As the beans grow, coax the vines into the tepee's shape by securing them around the web of wire or twine you made earlier. In about a month, your kids will have a leafy playroom.

NATURAL PRESENTS A beanpole tepee provides endless hours of fun, but it isn't the only kind of natural house you can grow. Experiment with different plants. You can create a room made of sunflowers by planting them in a 5-foot square. Children will love their cozy hut of golden blooms. Encourage your kids to explore the outdoors by making clover chains. You can also help them transform empty gourds into luxury living quarters for families of birds.

This article is from the June 2005 issue of Southern Living.