what is this

what is this

That looks like the Stinky Squid - Pseudocolus fusiformis, a cousin of the stink horns having a nasty smell to attract flies to carry away its spores: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/pseudocolus_fusiformis.html

Kennedy

Also compare the related Clathrus columnatus: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/clathrus_columnatus.html

Resin

Thank you both!

How wonderful!

That is just too freaky and wonderful

I always wondered what these strange things and eggs were in my garden!
Finally ! I always assumed they were some type of mushroom. They remind me of a crab claw because of the color.
I find them here in places where these is alot of mulch here in the north east in Northern Virgina.