Belgard flower and garden show returns to Chicago

• The "Belgard Chicago Flower & Garden Show" returns for its 15th annual outing with the theme of "Our World in Bloom" at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show continues through Sunday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Leading landscape and design firms are featured, as are experts from the Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Admission is $12-$14; children admitted for $5 every day. Parking is $15 for the day.

Garden lectures

• Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse hosts Vicki Nowicki of the Land Office for a presentation on "Backyard Permaculture" (a sustainable way of landscaping), from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 14, at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave., Chicago. The fee is $20. Call (312) 742-7529 for more information.

• Knupper Nursery's landscape designer hosts 55-minute office design consultations on spring planting for your home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays through March 19 at 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. The cost is $85 and due at time of registration. Call (847) 359-1080 for more information.

• Chalet hosts gardening expert Scott Thalmann for a discussion on "Vegetables 101" from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, at 3132 Lake Ave., Wilmette. Lecture is free. Call (847) 256-0561 for more information.

Chicago Botanic Garden

• The Volunteer Opportunity Fair is from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday, March 8 and 9.

• The Wisconsin-Illinois Lily Society Lily Lecture series hosts Woodruff Imberman for a session on "Lilies for Your Entire Summer" at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8. A lily bulb sale precedes the lecture at 1 p.m.

• The Chicago Botanic Garden Job Fair for seasonal employees is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 11.

• Scott Scarfone of Oasis Design Group in Baltimore, Md., teaches several garden design classes from Thursday, March 12, to Saturday, March 15. Classes range from $27 to $124. Call for more information and to register.

• The Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society Show and Sale is from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15.

• A free lecture on "Chicagoland Gardens: Innovations Yesterday and Today" is led by Cathy Jean Maloney at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Reservations recommended.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Road. Admission is free; parking is $15. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org.

Morton Arboretum

• Peter Bernhardt talks about orchids as part of the second installment of the "Trees of Life" series honoring the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "The Origin of Species" from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. Tickets are $16.

• The Midwest Gardening Symposium is from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, and from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Reservations requested.

The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Route 53 in Lisle. Admission is $11; $10 ages 65 or older; $8 for children ages 2-17. Parking is free. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org.