mahonia redeemed

I had a huge mahonia bush once, which never flowered, and when I tried to cut it back, it seemed to be nothing but a very prickly, dark green monster. I disliked it intensely.
But this little one, flowering in our garden today, looked almost jewel-like, almost beautiful.
So I'll forgive these shrubs, perhaps - but with a resolve never to let them get too big!