Thanks for all of the responses. I have already read through the lease, and the rules and regulations section. It is indeed just a broad sweeping statement that basically gives him the right to pick and choose what they want to have changed. There is only one neighbor who I am not friendly with. She stays inside, never uses the backyard area, avoids talking to anyone, and is generally very awkward. We have exchanged "heys" but that is it. Her unit is situated the furthest from my garden. The older couple next to me even offered their backyard space if I wanted to spread my garden out way before any of this happened, so I might see if the guy would be ok with me spreading it out. What really, really irks me is that the guy across from me, who I have gotten to be friends with, has a clunky charcoal grill in a state of disrepair, a table and chairs set with a broken umbrella, and the cushions from the chairs are all over the place everytime a storm blows through. All of this not to mention cigarette buts and other refuse on the ground. I could care less and would never complain, and I am certain he didn't say anything about it. In fact, I am 100% sure that all my immediate neighbors haven't said anything, they all compliment me on it and many of them discuss gardening and ask for advice. Another neighbor has a tomato plant in her backyard.
Another unit close to mine is a young couple with 3 kids. The kids fight with toy swords right outside my window, and they leave their bikes and toys all over the place on the sidewalks. In front of their unit, in plain view from the road, is what looks like a redneck playground. But of course, they are a young well to do couple who just don't give a crap so nothing has been done about it. And guess what? I haven't complained and would never complain.
I am thinking that the property manager guy just doesn't want everyone to follow suit as some of you suggested, he did say "if everyone else did this it'd be too crowded." I am with almost 100% certainty that no one has complained. What reaaaally pisses me off about this is other units, with more narrow hidden from the road backyards, have multiple grills, tons of birdhouses and other semi permanent fixtures and have been that way for awhile. I think it's just because mine is viewable from the road and in an open area that he has decided he doesn't like it.
What I have working in my favor is that this property manager guy is a short, spineless guy who prefers to put the maintenance guy in between him and any tenants. The maintenance guy has complained about it to me before and guess what? The guy wrapped up the conversation with "I'll get soemone to call you soon." Haha.
The best course of action, I believe, is that whenever, and if ever, Daniel calls me I'll first say that I am not trying to cause any problems. And these points
1. I don't understand why they waited until now, when the plants have been out til May, to ask me to remove them and say honestly I will be out a lot of money if I get rid of these.
2. The season will be over in 2 to three months, why can't he just wait?
3. I'll mention that I can divide the garden up amongst my neighbors (I just remembered that another one told me, without me asking, that I could put plants in her yard).
4. I'll mention that I have lived her for three years, and have had a dirt backyard that turns to a flooded mudplane whenever it rains. I'll point out that live green plants, if anything, are an improvement.
5. If height is an issue, and with the soil being so crappy, I will glady til, as others have done and I was unaware I could do, and add garden soil and put the tallest plants in the ground. Then when I leave, the soil will be in better shape then when I arrived. (last resort, I really don't want to til in July heat through hard clay!)
6. Because I know all of my neighbors don't mind it, I might ask them to sign a petition of sorts saying it doesn't bother them. I have a hunch the older couple, who love the garden and whom I talk to frequently, might even make a phone call without me asking.
If all else fails, I will say sorry (to the property manager, not Daniel), I didn't see anything about not being able to have a garden, or height requirements in the lease. In fact, I had one last year and you didn't say anything. Absent proof of any complaints, I am of the opinion that you have waived your right by acquiescence to have me remove the garden absent restitution (garden last summer, garden has been out there for months). I either want to be paid back an adjusted down, fair price for my lost plants, or I want you to till and place down sod behind my apartment as soon as I have the plants removed, as I am sick of tracking mud in and dirtying up my porch, and I don't want to look at dirt (THAT, my friends, is part of the landlord tenant agreement for my place, that they will perform maintenance and pay for it to keep it satisfactory).
We will see how it goes, but knowing that the maintenance guy is on my side, I am not worried.