chalyse,
They may decide to go back to the old zone ratings after the winter we have had this year!
I do appreciate your post, and it appears that dormancy may be a larger issue than I have given it credit for. As far as being for sure they are dead or not, all but Children's festival have been dead for nearly two years. It is possible that the Children's festival could revive, but it was fading fast early in the season last year.
Your post also tends to reinforce the idea that the drop in fertilization may also be a problem.
I suppose my pattern of buying is really at the root of the problem, "See a cheap daylily, buy it".
I need to plan my buying better, check the availability and price, then check the compatibility for my area "before" buying.
Thanks for reminding me about the zone 8a and 8b, I remember being 8a then I remembered being in 8b, so when I looked it up on a couple of zone maps they said 8a, must have been outdated maps. I will change that in my profile.
