This is the bud that has now bloomed as a cutting from the magnolia tree earlier this week. It is still in the vase with the other buds and is more advanced than the tree itseld.
Looks fab to me. I was in a local National Trust gardens today and the magnolias were out in abundance. Needless to say (a) I didn't have my camera with me and (b) because of my promise to myself of "no flowers", I wouldn't have shot them anyway!
Plants for free always seem miraculous.