What I am about to post is the truth, so help me. These "creatures" came up in some bulk cypress mulch we bought about two years ago. The look exactly like your pictures and did have an odor of something dead when near them. My sister-in-law told us they were "P___r mushrooms", as in male anatomy part, mushrooms. When my wife and her sister went back to the local nursery, my wife happened to ask if anyone had told them about these growing in the bulk cypress mulch we bought from them. The lady told them she wanted to "show them something". The entire pile of cypress mulch had these growing all over it. The lady told my wife and sister-in-law they were "P___r mushrooms", I swear it. She told them they had no idea of how to get rid of them. And they do come back each year. My wife seems to get pleasure out of cutting them off at or below the ground. Women claim we (men) have a weird sense of humor! Thanks, David
