Southern Living Plants Logo
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Like Us
    • Pinterest
    • #SLPlants
    • Youtube
    • Request Newsletter
Menu
  • About Us
    • History Of The Collection
    • Events
    • Brochure
    • Testimonials
    • Botanical Gardens
    • Why Choose Plants from Southern Living® Plant Collection?
  • The Plants
    • Shrubs
    • Trees
    • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
    • Annuals and Perennials
    • Groundcovers/Grasses
    • Tropicals
    • Vines
    • New Introductions
  • Where to Buy
    • Find a Retailer
    • Online Retailers
    • Local Landscapers
  • In the Garden
    • Plan Your Garden
    • Inspiration & Projects
    • Planting & Care
  • Connect With Us
    • Like Us
    • Pinterest
    • #SLPlants
    • Youtube
    • Request Newsletter
Search
Close
Centerpiece for a football party with chalkboard sign and Southern Living plants

Tailgating in Style

  1. Home
  2. Tailgating in Style
  • By Carmen Johnston
  • October 6, 2019
Create a football inspired container garden!

I can’t believe I am saying this, but the weather is finally cooling down. In the South that means one thing – football season! While my husband is beaming with excitement about the upcoming season, I am equally thrilled about creating a fun setting for game day at home or tailgating. I may not be a huge football fan, but I love putting together festive containers for he and his friends. These will look great at a home-viewing party, or will transport beautifully for festive tailgating.

But before you take a look at these two football inspired displays, my husband would want me to point out that he is not a fan of either team shown below! He is 100 percent a Georgia fan, and all but bleeds red and black. However, I really like the color schemes for both Alabama and Auburn, which really is the only reason I needed to create these super cool and uber quick container gardens below.

How to get the look for an Alabama-Inspired Container:

Step 1:  Place the white azalea toward the back of the container. (No soil is needed as you are not actually planting in the container.)

Step 2:  Place the Purple Pixie® Loropetalum to the right.

Step 3: Then place the ivy on the left.

Here are some quick tips to help you get game day ready:

– Find a scarf in the colors of your team of choice and use it as an overlay.

– You can also add a sticker with your team’s logo to your ice bucket. To enhance the color scheme we chose cherry flavored soda for extra Alabama pride.

– Just add a few team colored pom-poms on your chairs and you and your family are ready to cheer your team to victory.

After the party, plant your Pixie in a sunny location in your garden. If you are expecting fans all season long the Pixie will last in the gallon pot for several weeks if watered properly.

How to get the look for an Auburn-Inspired Container:

Step 1: Remove the Flirt™ Nandina from the Southern Living Plant Collection container and place it in the terra cotta pot.

Tip: Add a decorative key chain to the front of your pot.       

To complete the look we incorporated a fun tablecloth folded to fit our table. We also used the same type of galvanized bucket as above, but added an Auburn sticker. Place your pom-poms on your chairs and your look is complete – Go, fight, win!

Carmen Johnston

Get garden advice and plant care tips from industry expert, Carmen Johnston. Carmen integrates her first-hand experience with plants in The Southern Living Plant Collection with her vast knowledge of gardening to help readers solve garden problems.
View More Articles

Related Articles

Don’t leave your team spirit at the tailgate!

Welcome guests with this Southern-style game day garden.

Get Your Game Day Containers Ready for a Tailgate

How to make team color inspired containers!

Welcome guests with a team spirit game day garden from Southern Living

Want to create your own game day garden?

Plants Featured In The article

Camellia
Petite informal white Bride October Magic Camellia

October Magic® Bride™ Camellia

Camellia sasanqua ‘Green 99-006’ PP20539
Ligustrum

'Sunshine' Ligustrum

Ligustrum sinense ‘Sunshine’ PP20379
Loropetalum
Purple Pixie Loropetalum planted in a stone stepped wall of a bluff

Purple Pixie® Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum

Loropetalum chinense ‘Peack’ PP18441

Join the Conversation!

Where To Buy
Southern Living Plants

{find a garden center near you}

Southern Living Plants Logo
Instagram
Facebook-f
Pinterest
Youtube

Plants

  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines
Menu
  • Annuals and Perennials
  • Berry Plants & Fruit Trees
  • Groundcovers/Grasses
  • Shrubs
  • Trees
  • Tropicals
  • Vines

About Us

  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • History Of The Collection
  • Events
  • Botanical Gardens
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us

PRO Resources

  • Brand Resources
  • Marketing Support
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
Menu
  • Brand Resources
  • Marketing Support
  • Fact Sheets
  • Image Gallery
  • Re-Wholesaler Locator
©2020 Southern Living Plant Collection