Hare's a small list of ideas:

Reticulated Iris, Phlox (Mountain Thrift type of Course),any of the Ogon variety Sedums, Dwarf or Creeping Gardinia, Dwarf Hinoki Cypress, Blue Star Juniper, Bellis perennis (English Daisy),Coreopsis auriculata-Nana, some small grasses like the oat grass I have, Chasmanthium latifloium looks great coming up behind a rock and leaning over it and I will have several at the trade, Sedum- Blue Spruce, Ipheion, a mass of Stawberry Begonias looks good behind a flat topped rock and are quite hardy, Hardy Geraniums, Lonicera- Baggins Gold is a nice low shrub with tiny leaves in a varigated form but, can spread rather wide over the years. Fire Power Nandinas are also a nice compact shrub with great fall-winter color. And in spring I like to fill in with Australian Fan Flower(Scaevola) or Blue Daze(Evolvolus) and other cheap annuals.

How about blue fescue? Would that work?

creeping oreganos, creeping germanders, variegated catmint (has pink flowers, very pretty), biennial wallflowers (easy from seed), variegated or solid society garlic, dwarf ruellia,
creeping thymes, dianthus, armeria, alliums, dwarf japanese spirea like "little elf"...

GGG

Awesome list everyone -- thank you. Some I am familiar with and some I am not. I have a handful of some of your suggestions elsewhere in the garden so I'll give them a try here. Sugarhill, I've never grown blue fescue before but always wanted to try it as an accent since the color is so pretty.

GGG, I have never seen variegated catmint before. Do you know where I can find it? I have the normal purple Walker's Low catmint and absolutely love it. I'd be interested to try a pink variety.

If anyone else has more suggestions to add please do.
Thanks! Squirrellypete

i also recommend the 'blue spruce' sedum and sedum seiboldii. i am growing them in a similar site with good results. both are a nice bluish color in spring. seibold's sedum grows in a clump/rosette while the 'blue spruce' stays a bit shorter and slowly spreads laterally to form a mat.
'blue spruce' will also do well in morning to mid-day sun with afternoon shade.

Squirrely, I bought my variegated catmint at Thyme after Thyme nursery in Winterville GA. I will try to root some. It will only be a little cutting if it survives. Sorry, my plant isn't too large.
Also think about some of the native crested iris, a small boltonia I have which is native and clumps instead of runs (I may have some), a really cool plant which I might be able to root for you too (I have luck on and off) - a fleabane which creeps and blooms all summer, and the little wood asters. If you want blue wood aster I can get some for you.

Pls. email with wants. I also have lots of sedums - blue spruce, angelina kamtschaticum, the very dwarf type (don't know name)...

GGG

My mom has a rock garden that she started a couple of years ago, and we always go to Pike's and look in the 'stepables' section for interesting plants. They always have something new that I've never heard of that works in her garden...

You might also consider some of the small bulbous plants, such as Scilla and it's many relatives, species Tulips, Brodiaea & Triteleia(planted among grasses for support).
I also use Hens & Chicks (some are hardy for me), small & dwarf Hostas, Ice Plants (Delosperma),and Serissa foetida. Have seen Helleborus and Dwarf conifers used in larger RG's.
Rb

I have a rock garden on a bank next to my drive way for erosion control. I planted Blue Pacific Junipers in there last year and they've done great weaving themselves in and out of the rocks. Looks beautiful. This rock garden gets hammered by the hot afternoon sun.

We have a small bed in the front yard that is in full sun and IS NEVER watered. We have found that the siberian iris, lemon balm and fuzzy lambs ears love it. Stella d'oro's seem to grow anywhere as well. I wonder how lavender would do?

I have some bigger rocks, and the firewitch dianthus looks great beside the rocks. Also, last year, I picked up some creeping sedum at grower's outlet. I think it would do really well around the rocks. It just occured to me that homestead purple or ron deal verbina might look nice. It has been a really tough plant for me.

i prefer 'bath's pink' dianthus to 'firewitch'. it seems to be a tougher plant in our hot, humid summers with better looking foliage and soft pink blooms over a longer period (if you deadhead). it comes from stone mountain, ga.

Well I've started rearranging rocks and plants and it's looking better already. So far have moved a few plants from other parts of the yard including bearded Iris, lemon thyme, silver liriope, and Artemesia. Can't wait to add your suggestions soon. Thanks everyone! I'll post pics when it's finished.

Squirrellypete