novice permie renter

Hi!  I'm Erika and I live in a house that i rent.  The land behind the house is neglected and has decades of litter and trash in the leaves and there is standing water from the street run off.  As a renter, I don't want to involve the landlord in anyway but I want to make it subtly  better.  I will start by removing the trash a little each day.  The standing water has nowhere to go.  I thought about putting some small water loving plants native to the mid lower piedmont? Plants that could have started growing there if a bird had dropped a seed?
Any other suggestions appreciated!
Thank you,
Erika

Hi Erica;   Welcome to Permies!
I suspect that your landlord will not mind you cleaning up the back yard!
They might even like it a lot!
Some constructive shovel/hoe work might divert some of that standing water.  
What about a small garden?   Put some of that extra water to use?
Willow and birch trees both love water, have your little birdy drop them out back!

You can't go wrong improving your rental as long as you do not put up structures or bring in heavy equipment without permission !
Depending how often your landlord stops by they might start suggesting things you could do if you liked...  
Good renters are hard to come by. A smart landowner treats a good renter like family.

Erika, welcome to permies!

I feel you have a great idea.  I would love to have that area behind my house.

I wish I could recommend some water-loving plants that I have grown.  These plants like to be in or near water: Water hyssop, pickerelweed, cattail, iris, canna, elephant's ear, swamp sunflower, scarlet swamp hibiscus.

I've grown iris and canna though never in a wet situation.  

Be sure to keep us informed on your progress.