A sure sign of spring?

Ah, autumn. The fall colors are a sure sign that it is time for ... wait ... what is that in bloom. Could it be?

I am sure this must be a sign of the apocalypse. I can only imagine how poorly my rhododendrons will look in the spring. Of 2011.

Not when blooms are busting out all over like this. I can't begin to fathom, other than the drought of summer and the burst of rain the past few weeks told the plant the desolate winter had already passed.

Then there is this sight. I can only imagine what prompted the rhubarb to sprout like it was April.