Do you know your gardening zone? In which county are you located, if you don't know the zone?

I was about to give you a list of recommendations good for Zones 6b-8, until I realized there was no gardening zone provided (makes a difference). There is also no indication of SUN exposure (shaded, partial, full sun all day, etc...)

I have LOTS of deer AND plants so can tell you, you can have a lush yard!

This post was edited by njoasis on Fri, Aug 29, 14 at 15:45

We are in 6b and they would be in full sun- northern exposure. Thanks!!

BloominOnion, did you ever find some appropriate shrubs? If you're still looking, try checking Rutgers list of Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance - it's downloadable, free, at the link below. (I recommend the PDF version, as it's much easier to browse.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance

What do you mean by...full sun--northern exposure?

If they are in northern exposure, they are not full sun.

Anyways, I have had luck with...

holly (but they grow bigger than 2 feet)
DWARF ENGLISH BOXWOODS (my personal favorite)
Japanese Lilytrurf (Liriope muscari)

These grow taller than 2 feet, but also...
Piers
Rhododendron
Skimmia japonica
Barberry (but I hate the thorns on these)

I also use a lot of aromatics, especially...
ROSEMARY (You need the variety ARP; but need FULL SUN)
Lavender (FULL SUN/DAY LONG as well)
Yuca

You might also consider cotoneasters and...
Hardy Osmanthus (heterophyllus)...it has yellow and green coloration as well.

I also plant beds of hardy Opuntia cacti. (Yellow flowers in June)

You can definitely garden around the deer though!...Herds pass through mine...mostly frustrated and moving on to more edible pastures!

Good luck.