Silver Edge Pachysandra is a beautiful ground cover. It is slow to establish, though. It took three years for mine to fill in.

maybe some decorative strawberries..they won't climb up the schrubs like some ground covers. pretty pink flowers in spring

Hi Rhaine,

For a light, airy, flowery look, how about creeping baby's breath, Gypsophila repens in either pink or white. It'll be a mat of tiny flowers when it's blooming in early to mid summer, about 4" high when blooming, and xeric when established, so it won't need much water by next year.

Or for something that's incredibly easy to take care of, how about a collection of all different sizes and colors of Hen & Chicks, Sempervivum. They come in everything from tiny to large ones, and all shades of green and green/red/pink combinations. I like the "cobweb" kind (arachnoideum) that look like they're covered with webs, and another favorite is the one called 'Icicle', which has a totally frosty look. Few flowers, but they, too, are xeric and will virtually never need to be watered--even right after you put them in. Here's a picture showing 3 varieties side by side.

Have fun deciding what to use,
Skybird

Here is a link that might be useful: Hen & Chicks

Thank you for the variety of suggestions, it gives me so much to work with! I will look into them further.

Also- I didn't know there were so many varieties of hen & chicks!!! I don't normally like them, but I hadn't seen the purplish ones that have that frosty look-- they look really different.

Thanks again!