John,
I have broken some off right at the crown level, and surprise me, they came back. Assuming those little devils (cute devils, but still) didn't do damage to the crown area, you might get lucky. Is there ANY green left?

Yes, a little, so maybe I'll be lucky! Thanks

I had a few either break off or eaten and they came back.

My biggest fear is that something will come in the night and rip my seedlings out of their pots. Something did that to a chance find of a variegated Campanula carpatica last year, growing in a clump of others I winter sowed. I gingerly worked the little guy from the rest in the clump, planted it in a pot and left it near my back patio, under the rhododendron. Nothing had ever gotten into any of my potted plants before, so I wasn't worried. Next morning, the pot was tipped over, soil dug out, and the little guy was destroyed. I was irate! So, I'm hoping nothing will bother my daylily seedlings.

Karen

I truly know how awful that made you feel.

I had the same thing happen when I planted over a thousand last fall. If the rabbits didn't eat them, the deer did. It was very discouraging because it took a lot of work and a lot of help from friends to get those seedlings in the ground. I lost all hope.

Remarkably, they survived. I thought they were all gone, but they actually were covered over with masses of weeds, grasses and bluebonnets. After hand-weeding for weeks, relatively few are missing, though my hand and wrist have not yet recovered.

For you, all may not be lost. They may just come right back up again. I certainly hope so.

I don't know about rabbits and deer in other parts of the country, but where I live in East Texas, the deer eat the mature daylily plants just as well as the seedlings. They snacked on them all winter long, We tried bright halogen floodlights on the garden, and that worked for awhile. They eventually lost their fear of light, though.

Nancy

Nancy, Karen, KState Fan, Thanks! This gives me some hope. Luckily no deer in my yard yet, so the mature plants don't get eaten. So, this took me by surprise. I noticed this afternoon they already seem to have grown back a little (or maybe it's wishful thinking!). John

Well, all of the 23 that got eaten to the ground survived and are coming up (inside a fence now)! I'm really relieved. John

Well, that's great news John. Glad you've fenced them in, or should I say fenced those pesky rabbits out!!
Jan

It is such a lot of work to get them to this stage, so I am so happy for you! Glad the fence is working...

I live right on the edge of town...one house down is the open pastures to my West. Yesterday I saw a Cottontail for the first time wandering around in the street. Then he decided to come in my yard!! I clapped my hands and chased him out, wishing I had a pellet gun. They might be cute, but I don't want to put up with them in town! I put up with Moose eating my vegetable garden in Alaska before the dogs would get to them; but that was wayyy out of town and in the bush. I am in no mood to have my daylilies eaten for their salad enjoyment here! Hopefully, he will find enough food elsewhere not to be back! Jan G.

John: Have you thought to spray with deer/rabbit repellant when you plant your seedlings?

Julia