My friend has these growing in her yard. Any ideas??

Hi Marilyn. Those are called Stinkhorns and I think yours is a cluster of Clathrus columnatus (no. 29 in the list...click for images) or an individual stinkhorn called Stinky squid Pseudocolus fusiformis (no. 18) it is a bit hard to say for sure from the picture.

here is a link with general info and pictures

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/...

Thank you, Moonhowl!!!

You are most welcome Marylyn. My husband and I refer to them as architect fungus....the have such interesting structures and so varied. They reek, but are fascinating.