Any ideas what could be causing this or what I can do? Thanks!

Deer.....rabbits....

Probably not deer. I live in the city. We have occasionally seen deer here eating the mulberries off the trees behind our house (soon to be cut down) they come down the RR tracks but we don't see them to often. Probably rabbits then, we have those around pretty much on a daily basis. Wasn't sure if it was insect or other. These are the only blooms I've seen this way so far but they are low to the ground where most of the others are not.

The one in the image on the right looks like it's covered in slug slime.

I've also seen squirrels nibbling on buds this year. As soon as the oriental lilies were tall enough though, they just sat on the top of the fence and ate the spent blooms. And occasionally threw them at the dogs.

If it is deer, you will soon know for sure, as they will be back!!

Could be a groundhog too if the blooms were close to the ground.

I would say slugs too.

Yes, I have seen slugs here and there. I try to put salt out for them. It was still wet from dew when I picked these blooms off also so I don't know if it was slime or not. I threw them away after taking the pic. I will try to check any other for slime.

Well I went and double checked and did find some dry slug slime on the plant. Ugh...I really hate those nasty things.

If you see the slimy trails, it is probably slugs. It could also be Japanese Beetles, a most hateful pest.

Hello Cat,
I had a similar problem in my garden though I live in the country on 11 acres and when I saw the culprits I couldn't believe it.........it was birds that were attacking my plants. They broke off buds and scapes, tore petals and put many holes in the buds, both those that were open and smaller buds. The birds have "attacked" my garden 3 times in the past month. I have even had to go outside and chase the birds away, robins and Baltimore orioles and also eastern phoebes. I love my birds but this was all a bit much. I am still trying to figure out why they do? Last year I had this damage and I was blaming it on my husband and the weed wacker, now I know it was birds. Perhaps that might be your problem????

Maybe it is some insect on them that the birds are trying to eat?

Cat, try going outside in the evening after dark with a flashlight. I'll bet you catch the culprit in the act.

Btw, my money's on slugs or snails, too. A rabbit or deer would have eaten the whole flower. In my daughter's garden in Salt Lake City, the irrigation would come on early in the morning before dawn. I'd go out as soon as it was light enough to see, and pick off literally handfuls of snails from the iris, daylilies and a lot of other plants.

Also, you can't get snails or slugs with salt unless you sprinkle it right on them. It's not good for the soil, and dissolves easily so you would never put enough out that they will have to crawl over it. A good organic slug bait - there are several rated for use in vegetable gardens - will work much better for you.

I had this this year. Before that it was a hole in the middle of the bud. I saw holes in buds in previous years but when flowers opened it was a little piece missing. Not like this!

Elaine I am pretty sure it is slugs and or snails. I really don't like those slugs, gross! I am going to get some of the organic bait. Thanks!

pinkpurple I had one at the beginning of the season that was like that and the culprit was a squirrel.

I believe birds could do that too. I saw a woodpecker yesterday land on one of my scapes that has seed pods. I don't know what it was doing but it appeared that it was getting bugs. Then it flew and landed on my milkweed that I have for the butterflies and it was pecking at something on the milkweed.

Earwigs are eating my daylily blossoms here. Ugh

Eeekk! I hate earwigs!

Phil....Likewise. I have earwigs on my daylilies this year. This is a first for me. Also found some beetles, and slugs. Damage not too bad for me......but earwigs??

Mm, I don't think earwigs will do much damage to your flowers. As I recall (from a while back, I'll admit) earwigs mostly eat other bugs like aphids. They also eat young slugs and snails! They're considered a beneficial bug - still I agree, they are creepy!

Again, they feed at night, so when you see the damage, go out after dark with your flashlight, to make sure you're getting the right critter.

If they seem to be doing a lot of damage, DE is the ticket, dust it on the ground around the plants when the ground is fairly dry.