- something ate most of the scapes overnight --- have sprayed with soapy water and salad oil ... per last year, this didn't happen ... any help appreciated !!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe Rabbits or Deer?

Isn't that too high for rabbits? t Nothing is bent or snapped to the ground ...
These are 2 to 3 feet high ...
Deer - think I have seen one in 2 years - across the street trying her best not to be seen by a human ...

Thank you for answering, Plantladylin ...

LOL Peggy, since they are too tall for rabbits I bet deer have been visiting your garden at night. Deer are such lovely critters but they sometimes do enjoy our flowers. Other than deer I can't imagine what it could be since it's only biting the tops of the scapes and buds. You might try using hot pepper and see if that works at keeping the critters away. I've used the hot pepper flakes sprinkled around to deter squirrels but someone told me about making this liquid hot pepper spray that might work: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Yo...

edited to add: You should probably only spray it on the plants in the evening after the sun has gone down and on a non-windy day.

Plantladylin ---
Just finished spraying the scapes / buds of the daylily with sriracha sauce in soapy water ...
Smells rather nice along with the garlic and chives growing :)

Do appreciate it...

Peggy

Hope it works and the deer or whatever has a liking to your Daylilies leaves them alone!

I hope it works, too. So sad when you work so hard for something and it's gone in a moment.

The proper term for deer that have been stuffed with daylily blooms is "Venison."

Another critter I caught breaking flowers off at the top like that was neighborhood kids, taking flowers home to mommy.
You can throw rocks at them and they'll go away, or you can send them home with plants of their own, whichever suits your mood.

woofie said:The proper term for deer that have been stuffed with daylily blooms is "Venison."

@woofie oh SNAP!

Woofie and Cindi --

I've certainly had plenty of daylily buds eaten by the deer...

Peggy, please let us know how the sriracha spray works for you, that sounds like an interesting approach!

CindiKS said:Another critter I caught breaking flowers off at the top like that was neighborhood kids, taking flowers home to mommy.
You can throw rocks at them and they'll go away, or you can send them home with plants of their own, whichever suits your mood.

Spraying with the hose also works, unless it's a hot day. On deer as well as kids . . . I have a motion detector sprinkler that is just fantastic for repelling critters and picker people in open spaces, too. It works at night as well. I've used it for my little lychee tree which the fruit rats (or neighbors) were raiding at night, and it is fabulous. Need to aim it away from the road or passing cars set it off, and away from waving leaves as well.

This is the original like I've had for 15 years (and still works great!) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000071NUS/
but you can get a cheaper knock-off version for less money now.

** UpDate on Deer Cocktail **

1st spraying on 28 May -- soapy water and Sriracha sauce = Deer Cocktail -- put on all Daylily buds and Tiger Lily stems that tops were nibbled off.

Skipped a day -

30May - repeated Deer Cocktail .. no more buds have been nibbled on and had a Ditch Lily bloom !!!!

Shall keep it on every other day until -

Thank you all for your suggestions [ some hilarious ] ... all appreciated

Peggy, good job with the Sriracha deer cocktail! (I'm going to have to remember that one )