Someone released the Kraken(s) into my forest garden!

It's been raining more here this year than any other year in my memory.  This creature has pushed up from the depths.  First time I've ever seen it.  Anyone know what it is?

My first guess is that it's a stinky squid (Pseudocolus fusiformis), but just a guess from looking at pictures online.  

I think you are spot on with your guess. I looked over different stinkhorns in the Maine area and nothing really comes close.

Alternatively, climate change plus wildfire smoke may have indeed selected for a terrestrial Kraken...... and these are its babies!  If you suddenly stop posting, we will assemble the Boots into a zombie apocalypse vigilante force and attempt to free you from the horde.  [Please let us know if you plan suspend posting for vacation so that we don't assume the worst and pull the trigger early....]

:-)

One day later and the 4 have been joined by 7 more.  Is 11 anything to be concerned about?  One is 32 feet closer to my home, none are arising further away.  I'm sure they just want to be closer to me.  I admit, I'm getting fond of them, but I haven't yet put my nose down near them to complete the experience.  I'm expecting cadaver, yet I'm going to smell them anyways.  Life is too short to miss all the fun!

I'll shoot out the boot signal to the clouds if things get out of hand, John.

Too funny. I would have called it an octopi fungi.

Living far from the sea my whole life, how could I know the difference between an octopus and a squid?

Greg Martin wrote:One day later and the 4 have been joined by 7 more.  Is 11 anything to be concerned about? ......

Boot Signal.....  Good preparation, Greg!

11, not so clear to me, but the numbers 4 and 7 individually hold powerful significance in both good and bad ways.  The number 4 can represent balance as between the elements earth,  wind, fire, and water, .... but also note the 4 horseman of the apocalypse.  And recall the idea of actions that will lead to sustainability "7 generations removed", ..... as well as the need for "7 brides for 7 brothers".

Also, soccer phenom Christiano Ronaldo, aka CR7, still wears his lucky 7 jersey.....

How this may impact the successful emergence of a new life form in your yard is beyond me, but I would keep those batteries in the Boot Signal in top shape....

24 today.  Bent down and sniffed from about a foot away....stinky indeed! My impression was decomposing seafood.  Wasn't sure about the specific kind of stink, but couldn't bring myself to go in for another sniff.
I built this bed by creating a bed shaped brush pile and then one year stomping on all the branches to break them down as flat as possible.  Then I covered it all in wood chips and left it over winter.  The next spring I planted into it.  Still lots of branches under the chips and many species of fungi working on it.  It was a real treat to meet the stinky squid this year in there.  My plantings seem to appreciate all the work the fungi are doing.