Thursday, December 11, 2008

Southeast Georgia Alien Plant Life

Stepping through the sliding glass doors, rather than being greeted by the deliciously sweet aroma of dried autumn leaves to which I am accustomed, I was repulsed instead by a most odious smell. I searched around this area of the house, attempting to locate the perpetrator of my nose hair burning.

Finally, I pin pointed the source.

Under a back stoop, lo and behold, there was a freshly born alien plant life. I screamed at the top of lungs "Sweetie, come here! What is this!?"

My husband came tearing outside, "What's wrong?!" Probably thinking I had cut my hand off or something.

I asked him, "WHAT is THAT!" pointing at the odious offender.

He calmly responded "Oh, that's just a Stinkhorn. We used to call it 'stink cabbage' when I was kid." Then he continued to relate how they as youths would throw these horrible things at each other! [sigh] Boys ...

I had to look this thing up on the internet.

At the web site MushroomExpert.Com, the little monster has a rather fancy name of Clathrus columnatus, aka Stinkhorn.

"Ecology: Saprobic; growing alone or gregariously; often near woody debris (and apparently sometimes growing right out of the sides of living trees); in lawns, gardens, cultivated soil, and so on; from North Carolina to the Gulf coast, and in Mexico (reported as far north as New York); October through March."

Sure enough, there's wood mulch under the stoop and it's the right time of year.

Well, next time my nostril radar picks up one of these, I'm running the other way! The mushroom is a lovely orange color but it smells like dog doo on steroids. So, it just goes to show one, you can't judge a mushroom by it's color.

♥ ∞

14 comments:

  1. LOL! Sorry to laugh at your odiferous offense...but that thing might be a pretty orange color but I think I saw it on a horror movie once when I was young! Have a terrrrrifffic Thurday!

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  2. LOL! I needed a good laugh today. I am still laughing! Thank you for sharing. :)

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  3. EWWWWW...Yeah, we have them here too..it must be a southern thing, LOLOL. SORRY, I had to laugh, I need that windex now to clean the screen, lolol. Blessings

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  4. Yeah, I think these are a Southern Thing! Maybe we could ship one to Illinois and they could vote it in as Governor. Might be an improvement??! ROFLOL! ♥ ∞

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  5. Those are the nastiest things, and they look rather rude as well. They used to pop up in my yard once in a while and I was like you upon seeing the first one - thought the mars men had landed and were smelling up the place.

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  6. "Ma..ma...men from Mars!!" (think Porky Pig cartoon) ROFLOL!! ♥ ∞

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  7. Grose! Can you whack it down? Things should all smell like cinnamon this time of year, don't you think?

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  8. Absolutely! Cinnamon is definately a preferred odor anytime!! Love that smell. :o) ♥ ∞

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  9. Oh my stars, that thing is nasty! Icko! ha ha I love your background by the way and how the holly leaves and berries stay in place. Very Cha Cha my dear! How's your back doing this week?

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  10. Hi Cha Cha! Neck constantly crackles and has dull throb. Possible surgery in future but not concerned. Maybe I'll get lots of ice cream afterwards?? Oh, wait, that's for tonsils. ha ha
    Hope y'all are well and staying warm. :o) ♥ ∞

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  11. No problem keeping the kids from taking a bite of that one. Phewwwwwwee. You learned me something new today. Pappy

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  12. 'Bout time somebody larnt ya somethin'! Teach y'all everything I know and you STILL don't know nuthin'. [roflol] ♥ ∞

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  13. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA really laughing. You deserve it after saying I stole your christmas ornaments and send the CHA CHA Police on me. I mean really! :)

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  14. I know, terribly sorry, but your sister was *SO* anxious to pin one on you ... !! LOL!!
    Y'all are so much fun. :o)) CYA tomorrow on the Tour! ♥ ∞

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⭐ A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. ~ Walter Winchell