My poor little Fortune's Dearest is looking very sad! Does it just need feeding? See how the leaves have turned sort of yellow? It looked great last year.

It looks like chlorosis to me. Here's the AHS link

http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_d...
http://www.daylilies.org/ahs_d...

Ouch! That looks like the right diagnosis, but what do I DO?

If it is chlorosis it needs iron. However, I am going to suggest spider mites. Take a white sheet of paper, place it under the leaves, and gently tap the leaves. If you see little critters on the paper, they are probably spider mites. They love hot dry weather. Seen any of that? Easiest treatment is a spray of water under the leaves.

Heh heh, hot dry weather? Not any time lately! Today is the first really warm day we've had here! So, if it's not bugs (and I will check for that), what would you recommend?

If it's chlorosis then yes it needs some nutrients. I have gotten the liquid iron (chelates iron) and sprayed mine when I had this problem. The reason I had it was my soil ph was too high which I had to correct. I had one potted plant that had it and it just needed a little TLC with some slow release fertilizer, alfalfa, and a little ironite and then fertilized with miracle grow.
Poplarcreek may be right about spider mites, but it really doesn't look like spider mite damage to me and I've had lots and lots of spider mite to contend with.

I need to check the ph of the soil where it's planted then (I have a couple of other daylilies in the same area). Is there a brand name for the liquid iron (never heard of that!)....not sure what to look for. I'm very new to daylilies.

I think it's Hi-Yield I use, but the label has in large print "liquid iron". Fertilome has it as well. Most places carry it. I get mine at a hardware store that has a really great garden center, but the lowes and Home Depot here have it.
Here's a link to what the bottle looks like
http://www.ruralking.com/liqui...

Thank you! I've never heard of needing to give plants iron, but I'm going to give that a try! Would that problem also affect the color of the bloom? And do you know if that's something that roses also might need?

Iron is just one of the micronutrients daylilies (plants) need, there are others. If you read say for example all the things in Miracle Grow fertilizer, everything beyond the N-P-K is basically the micronutrients thats needed.
Yes lack of or too much of iron can affect bloom color. Too high of soil Ph can cause color issues as well as bloom size, bud count, etc because the plant isn't getting everything it needs to produce healthy blooms, foliage, growth.
Just like people, plants need vitamins and minerals. Some places have it in the soil naturally, but usually things need to be added or given.

Thanks so much for your advice! Our hardware store didn't have the liquid, but they did have a granulated form (I think I now have a lifetime supply!). And my little ph meter seems to think the soil is rather alkaline, too, assuming I'm using it correctly. Going to try the iron first, tho. I think I see a second scape coming up; maybe the iron will make some improvement in time for it to bloom.

Your welcome and the granules will do just fine. What does your ph meter read? If it reads around 6.5 you are ok in the ph area. Once it starts getting into the 7 or above range then it's on the high side. T

I tried the meter a couple of times and it registered over 8! I got some Aluminum Sulfate, too. I've always grown mostly annuals in containers till the past couple of years, so the soil here had been a non-issue. I did add bone meal and manure to the planting hole for the daylily when I planted it, but the basic ground is pretty much clay. Looked great the first year it bloomed!

That's what I use to lower my ph is the aluminum sulfate. Hopefully it will all work out.