     /**
      *  Minimum selectable date; only this date and dates after this date are selectable.
      * 
+     *  <p>Note that the Date object returned by the getter is a copy of 
+     *  the internal Date, and the one provided to the setter is copied
+     *  internally, so modifications to these will not be reflected in the
+     *  DateSpinner.</p>
+     * 
      *  @default If minDate is null, the value defaults to January 1st, 1601.
      *           minDate's year should be greater than or equal to 1601 since
      *           DateTimeFormatter only supports the range from 1601 to 30827

            || (_minDate == null && value == null))
            return;
        
        _minDate = value;
        populateYearDataProvider = true;
        populateDateDataProvider = true;
        minDateChanged = true;

    private static function get todayDate():Date
    {
        if (_todayDate != null)
        {
            // use a copy, not the original that was passed in
            return new Date(_todayDate.time);
        }
        
        return new Date();
    }

    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    //
    //  Overridden methods
