are both these pics of the same mushroom? The second pic reminds me of what we call "puff balls". but the first NOT.

Mushroom ID is a very iffy thing, even among experts. My rule of thumb is "don't mess with them!"
However, I've never heard of the plant itself being poisonous, only the fruit (i.e., the mushrooms)

i was wondering if it was still ok to use the manure in my garden or should i remove the mushrooms before i do. i have no death wish and would never try to eat one growing wild! they are growing next to each other, i thought they were the same just in different stages, but i have no clue. they just started out very round and then sort of spread out.

are the "puff" ones the ones that poof some sort of dust all over if you step on them? they are here also but in a different area.

thank you for the help

It will be perfectly fine to use the manure in your garden.

thank you so much.

and yes puff balls do send up a cloud of dust when stepped on. At some stage you can eat them...BUT...I don't know when. Wish I did for sure as we get lots and I love mushrooms oh well..they are ALL safe from the fry pan

i guess i have read too many mystery books, where some obscure mushroom is used to kill people. i am afraid of them all. they are very ihteresting to watch when growing, but i will never eat one from the wild. in the store in the produce section is fine with me!

That "dust" from the puffballs are spores. So when you step on those puffball mushrooms, you're sowing more mushroom seeds!

live and learn! that makes so much sense but i never thought of it. there is so much room here, compared to where i used to live, (acres instead of a tract home back yard) that mostly we just leave things alone outside of the land we use to garden, and the fire restrictions. i am trying to add things that i see butterflies, bees and birds attracted to.