Wha?

Wha? Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?

This is a...it's a...well...it's a thing I've watched grow over the last two and a half weeks in a neighbor's yard. Tonight I got the courage go in their yeard to take a photo without asking because they are never there. Wait. This thing shows up and now I never see them. Hmmm. Just kidding. It couldn't possibly be the cause of their disappearance. Or could it? It looks other worldly. Like a sponge or coral from the ocean floor. Not a something uninvited growing in a garden variety front yard in Atlanta. It grew quickly, so every time I passed with the dogs, I figured it wouldn't be there when I got back to take its picture. Well, it's hardier than I expected, because here it is after heat, rain, wind, flying branches, squirrels, cats and dogs.

Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?