Inspired by the BBC competition at this week's Chelsea Flower Show, here are own garden favourites from this week....

The crumbling stones and peaceful gardens create a magical atmosphere.

Images from the beautiful Dryburgh Abbey just outside Kelso.

Lystichiton americanus (yellow skunk cabbage) and the more traditional Scots pine (next post) are also striking inhabitatants of the garden, while swathes of daffodils planted around the private family chapel cannot help but capture the visitor's attention.

On Friday, a trip to Stobo (Dawyck arboretum) proved inspirational as always for the Garden School staff. The garden's rhodedendrons are at their best, flourishing in the acidic soil, as do the wonderful swathes of Trillium grandiflorum (wood lily).

Rising stars of the new garden include Amelenchier, Kerria japonica, French lavender, Norway maple (crimson king) and euphorbia... elsewhere there is a wonderful small cluster of Betula Jacquemonti, as yet too young to sport the characteristic ghostly white bark, but still eye-catching. More images of the garden shortly.

Last year we began work on a new area of the Learning Curve garden. It was made up of a series of overgrown vegetable beds (left). Since then, much hard work on the part of staff has transformed the area - the beds are gone and the new garden is beginning to take shape.

In the next post is a picture of the same area shortly after it was replanted.

Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed to say they like the photos and encouraged me to keep up with the blog. I've decided to open it up to everyone in The Garden School, so there will be more beautiful images to share. We're also planning to use the page to record the development of our own garden. Students will already be familiar with the new Tranquillity Garden we are creating for Learning Curve staff. A place to escape and enjoy a few quiet moments. There have been some exciting developments over the winter and the garden is really starting to take shape now. Photos soon. For now, welcome to spring...!

Sad news regarding the listening tree at Bemersyde (18th November) by the way- it is dead and is becoming a danger so it will need to be cut down this year.

Copper beech, in beautiful landscaped grounds running down to the River Tweed.

Summer fruitfulness...

Summer visitors remembered...