hens and chicks

Dianthus is low growing and heat resistant. I don't know about deer.

Here's a good link with plants good for the rock garden. You would need to cross reference the list for deer.
The dianthus is deer resistant. Potentilla, lambs ear, gaillardia, and thymes are nice, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado State Rock Garden Plants

Rock garden Columbines are really cute. I think they are deer resistant.

i have lots of hardy cacti and hardy succulents which are perfect for rock garden. respond to my recent post.

thank you all for the suggestions. i'm so exhausted from moving rocks and carrying bags of mulch, i didn't even have the energy to shop for plants!

i especially like the idea of cacti. very thorny cacti, planted VERY close to the other plants. i'm sure that if the deer get too close, they won't come back...