Some people are not thrilled about the new ivy that the Chicago Cubs are putting on the exterior of Wrigley Field, writes Ron Lieber in today's Wall Street Journal.

The vines -- botanically known as Parthenocissus tricuspidata -- have been on Wrigley Field's outfield wall since 1937 and are the signature feature of the venerable ballpark. . . .

Now, the team, which is owned by Tribune Co., is adding new ivy outside. During the off-season, it expanded the bleachers and rebuilt exterior brick walls that face a public sidewalk and residential buildings directly across narrow streets behind the ballpark. In the next several weeks, the groundskeepers will put 622 ivy plants into the ground at the foot of those exterior walls to show a more manicured face to the many neighbors who opposed the expansion.

The problems, it appears, are that ivy is costly to maintain and "architects don't want it covering up their handiwork and believe it damages buildings by sucking moisture from walls."

In Oregon, in fact, it is illegal to sell one of the ivy varieties that is being placed on the outside wall.

There's also the problem of vandalism. "Peter Lindsay Schaudt, the landscape architect who came up with the ivy-on-the-outside idea, has a different concern. 'Vandalism is my greatest fear,' he says. Friendly fans might try to clip leaves for souvenirs before the plants have taken root. Fans of opposing teams could rip the ivy down, spill beer on it or worse."

Yes, I could see that being a problem.