Rock garden help?

A little somewhat neglected rock garden I've adopted for friend. I stuck some petunias and nasturtiums, but it seems so blah. So I'm thinking of perhaps some Euphorbia myrsinites (Myrtle Spurge)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_myrsinites, and I guess I really need to get familiar with some cute alpine plants, being German, the one that comes to mind is Edelweiss http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo20634.htm, but I'm not sure if it would work here. So! Got any suggestions???

While walking in my favorite woods I found something that might make a good walking stick. It happens to be what I used to call Ironwood, but apparently it has other names like muscle wood or blue beech. It's actually American Hornbeam - Carpinus caroliniana http://www.mntca.org/resources/treeid/tree_dec_alt_bir_hornbean.html, It's not seen too often and is an undergrowth type of tree, so it doesn't get real large, extremely hard and with its muscular growth makes for a good cane.