Question
Hi, We have a pine tree stump in the front yard that has been cut for some years. Just recently I noticed a white marshmallow-y thing growing on the bottom of the stump. We pulled on a piece of grass to see what was inside and it's the same substance, soupy, gooey and white. No bugs come out, and now that it has been exposed it seems to be blackening and now there is another one on the other side of the tree. Seems to have grown in a couple days...?
What is it and what do we do about it? Will it spread to other plants...?

Answer
This is one of the decay fungi that is only breaking down the wood of the stump during the natural decay process. There is no need to treat the area it will not spread to other plants--it feeds on dead wood. This is all normal decaying of wood. What you are seeing are the fruiting bodies of the fungi that is growing in the wood. They will dry up in a few days.