Bearded Irises

foxtrot

I have a few bearded irises and eagerly watch for the flower buds to start appearing.  The buds are now well up but to my dismay, for the first time in 20 years, something is eating the stems.  Some have been completely severed and others are so damaged that I don't think the buds will be able to further develop.  Any idea as to what the culprit may be ?

Obelixx

Slugs and snails do it in my garden.  Torchlight parade to check for them.

lilysilly

Snails, the ones that come out at night. Get a torch and go collecting all you can find. Then dispose of them as you wish.
 I keep an old pair of silicon tongs to collect them into an old ice cream tub as some of the slugs are huge and I don't want to touch them . Then using kitchen type scissors get snipping. A quicker death for the snail or slug than pellets or salting them.

foxtrot

Thanks for the advice.  We've had snails and slugs feasting on many other things in the garden but this is a new one on me.  Thanks for the advice.