Orange gunge.

A much better day here today.
A little shower first thing but at 10 an all clear and a very nice bright spring day.
May it continue.

The orange gunge on top of tree stump is known as fusiform gall rust.
This fungal infection is commonly found on the swollen areas along branches and trunks of loblolly trees.
The fungus normally destroys the woody tissue of the stump that death becomes inevitable.