I have had some do that too, but they bloomed fine.

Um, I had a bit of a horror show when several of mine became infested with some insect or another, resulting in swollen buds and deformed blooms. Some sort of gall mite. Ripped out long ago, but I still mourn the loss as they were delicate and graceful, not remotely like most of the lumpen and garish daylilies I have at the allotment. Called either Golden Chimes or Corky. I miss them. Can't say I noticed the foliage being affected though so don't take my dire moans as indicative of anything (other than the usual garden whining).

It looks like spring sickness. Check out the description in the dictionary of the American Daylily Society. (daylilies.org/daylily-dictionary/spring-sickness) It doesn't kill the plant and the affected fans will eventually grow out of it. It's not gall midge as that insect only affects the buds.

Awesome info. Thanks! The article doesn't offer solutions but glad to see acknowledgment on this. I was suprised I didn't get any search hits.

I recalled that I gave a friend a division. I am going to ask her if hers is doing that. Although she has so many she may not know where it is.

Did your use any weed / grass killer that may splattered or blew on it?

I have some every year that do this. They don't like the warm/cold of spring and get "spring sickness" as Nancy above described. Not a problem.