diff --git a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date/conversions.rb b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date/conversions.rb
index d553406dff797ede24a23986aa3b3ca9443fcb03..c6c30aa8358cd0ef02d1600a6c393d2e527a4fb3 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date/conversions.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date/conversions.rb
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ def readable_inspect
   #   date.to_time(:local)           # => 2007-11-10 00:00:00 0800
   #
   #   date.to_time(:utc)             # => 2007-11-10 00:00:00 UTC
+  #
+  # NOTE: The :local timezone is Ruby's *process* timezone, i.e. ENV['TZ']
+  #       If the *application's* timezone is needed, then use +in_time_zone+ instead
   def to_time(form = :local)
     raise ArgumentError, "Expected :local or :utc, got #{form.inspect}." unless [:local, :utc].include?(form)
     ::Time.send(form, year, month, day)