This big plant is called yucca, Spanish dagger, or palma pita. It's actually in the lily family. Yuccas, like cacti, are adapted to dry conditions. They have thick, leathery leaves to conserve water. The yucca is one of the tallest plants on the Scrub, yet it doesn't have true wood! When it blooms, its big cluster of creamy-white flowers is one of the most spectacular around. On top of this yucca, you can see Jose the Harris's Hawk. He's one of the 20 species of hawks, falcons, and eagles out here. Little wonder, because there are more than 20 species of rodents in the scrub, including me! Well, this packrat has no intention of being lunch today....