Our lot is covered with a shrub-like plant called a Fairy Duster. They're in bloom now (April) and the flowers are really pretty. The plant grows sporadically all over the slopes but our lot seems to have way more than average. I'm not sure why but I'll settle for being lucky.
Here's what they look like up close. The flowers are feathery and delicate, but the plant itself is quite wiry and the roots go down at least three feet. We found that out when we were trenching.