AITA for replacing our building’s flowers with native plants without approval?

I maintain the flower beds outside our six-unit building. The landlord reimburses basic supplies but rarely responds to questions.

After another dry summer, I removed the struggling annual flowers and planted drought-tolerant native plants. I used the same budget and did the labor myself.

Two neighbors were pleased. Three hated the result. One had chosen the old red flowers with her late husband and considered them a small memorial.

The landlord told me to restore the original design. I refused unless he paid for new plants and watering, because the natives were healthy and already attracting pollinators.

The neighbor offered to buy the red flowers herself. I still objected that they would require more water and undo the ecological reason for the change.

I thought stewardship meant improving a neglected space. I also treated my research as permission to erase a choice other residents had lived with for years.