It's commonly called "dog vomit mold", a slime mold that tends to form in mulch in weather like we're having. Lots of info on the web about it but this is a good site with pics of it and a description.

Oh, thank goodness! I was freaking out that it would grow up my small Japanese Maples. It was going up their stakes!

My first response was, "but I have had 4 hours of rain in almost 7 weeks.." and then I remembered I've been running soaker hoses. Ah-ha!

Thanks so much for the link. It sure does look, well, vomity!

Christine

Yeah... that is pretty gross. I haven't seen any personally around here but the mushrooms are definitely in abundance in the mulch!

I have had that same type of fungus, I usually just use my rake to mix the mulch up. Even though there hasn't been substantial rain, the humidity factor has just created the right environment.

BTW, how's that red truck of yours holding up, Christine?

My little red truck is fantastic I am so thrilled with it. It, and my pitch fork, have revolutionized mulching for me!

I have almost 9000 miles on it already. Looks like it's going to be a little work horse. Thank you for asking, laine! :)

Christine

That can't be real! Who computer-enhanced those photos with oatmeal? That is sooooooo grooooooossssss! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! BLEEEEEEECCCCCCHHHHHH!!!!!!

I'm starting to wonder if living in the country is all it's cracked up to be....

I had a bright orange slime mold in my compost bin once - it was a sight to behold! Not nearly as gross as the dog-vomit kind.

A slime mold is not really a fungus, but a communal microorganism. Individual cells come together to make the fungus-looking thing, which is their fruiting body. I have a very large monograph on slime molds, and if you're really nice to me I'll let you borrow it sometime...

Yeah! I had this stuff growing out of a bag of mulch that was sitting on my porch and I haven't opened yet. Bought it at WalMart. Weird...