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What's the controversy around pollinator gardens?

Yellow pollen dusts the head of a bee as it pollinates a Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' sage flower at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.
Carolyn Kaster
/
AP
Yellow pollen dusts the head of a bee as it pollinates a Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' sage flower at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

There's controversy surrounding pollinator gardens: is it an eco-friendly way to attract native bees, butterflies and insects, or unsightly eyesores that irk neighbors and violate local ordinances.

The issue spilled over at a recent Blendon Township meeting that brought out more than 100 residents who railed against proposed new rules on what’s also called natural landscaping.

The township ended up tabling the issue, but as these gardens explode in popularity, municipalities across the state are rethinking existing ordinances on weeds and more.

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