…what it was: a stinkhorn mushroom, a bizarre fungus that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. Its reddish, slimy “cap” is covered in a foul-smelling, spore-laden goo that attracts flies—hence the stench of rotting meat. The mushroom can grow overnight, often appearing suddenly in flowerbeds or lawns, and its appearance is notoriously shocking to those who stumble across it unexpectedly.
Once I identified it, a mix of relief and disgust washed over me. It wasn’t an alien or a dead animal—just a very peculiar, very smelly mushroom. I carefully removed it, gloves on, and disposed of it away from the garden.
Even after knowing the truth, I couldn’t help but marvel at nature’s weirdness. Something so small could trigger such a visceral reaction, reminding me that the outdoors has its own wild surprises—sometimes beautiful, sometimes horrifying, and sometimes… a little of both.
