Many daylily growers have plants that are critical to their hybridizing programs, maybe with valuable pods or at critical points in their development, or maybe with just a few fans of an important breakthrough.
In Argentina, the wine producers' grape vines provide the life blood (juice) that they depend on for their livelihood. They have hail problems as well.
Here is a solution that might be adaptable to daylilies.
This is netting stretched over a framework
Obviously, the winemakers have to be able to reach inside, so hardware cloth (metal mesh) won't do, but it looks as though the netting can be rolled up tightly for protection or unrolled for access. A top panel could stay permanently in place.
This is just a seed idea, details left to be worked out, but my bet is that someone will plant this seed, or already has, and share results.
Credit to "The Reverse Wine Snob" for the picture