You can eliminate candidates not tall enough to reach the buds.

The deer ate every daylilly bud that were on my plants this year. Before this they only ate my roses. I am planning to sell my property & move very soon.

But couldnt the shorter candidates have nipped them while they were were stlll growing? When do buds form on daylilies and impatiens canadensis?

have nipped them while they were were stlll growing?

==>> sure but youll have to be out there every day.. to confirm that ...

but.. im not sure a flower stalk would continue to grow upwards if there is no flower on top of it ... deadheaded plants sure dont ....one of our biologists will have to chime in on that ..

ken