Could it be Florida anise?
http://duncannurseries.com/images/SHRUBS/Florida-Anise.jpg

The buds were not open, but appeared to be much larger than the anise flowers.

Just had a report that some of the Magnolia soulangiana, Tulip Magnolias are in bud again.

Here is a link that might be useful: Images

Yes, I have tulip magnolias re-blooming.

does she live near you?
was thinking that it might be something more tropical if she lives in a warmer zone. i am drawing a blank trying to think of a summer flowering tree with large, red buds in a midlatitude zone.

I live between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. The tree in question is about 8 miles from me. The owner is out of town for two weeks but I will try to get a picture of itwhen she comes home. I don't think the flowers looks like any of the pictures I have seen, but, I did not get a closeup look at it.

Oh, pumpernickel!! The owner called me today and told me that the tree is no longer in bloom!! I guess the storm the other night knocked the flowers off :-( Well, that will leave me with an ID mystery for next year...LOL!! Thanks, all, for the input.....:-)

If we had good images of the leaves, branches, and maybe even the trunk, I'll bet we could ID it!

Because my neighbor used to have a tree like this with such red blooms,
my guess is flowering pomegranate, punica granatum.

Here is a link that might be useful: flowering pomegranate

I think Tevedore id'd it...my potted dwarf Pomegranate has had blooms for 2-3 weeks. josh

Lynn had a spectacular Pomegranate, about 10-12 ft. tall, in full flower at the time of the spring swap.

Susan.