Spiky, spiny Mahonia species flower late in the year and grow strongly even in deep dry shade. On a sunny day bumblebees will come out of hibernation for the spires of yellow flowers.
 Bumblebees are furry so can cope with a certain amount of cold. In fact the greatest number of different bumblebee species are to be found in the Himalayas. For that reason it is speculated that bumblebees evolved in that part of the world. They are predominantly a species of cooler temperate zones. They can be found in hotter climes such as Africa and South America but only in cooler parts eg. mountain ranges.