Lovely flowery type stuff for alkaline/chalky soil?

[Llamas]

I've just had to empty a rather sizeable plot of what was once a flower garden (lazy previous tenant). Some stuff survived, some has not, so theres going to be a lot of empty space. Excellent.
Now, being relativly new to this dirt stuff, could any one suggest some lovely flowery type plants which don't mind my chalky, -probably- alkaline soil? (I'm on the South Downs just outside Winchester) I'm planning on mulching for England (unlimited access to cow-poo) but I don't want to be chained to fertilizers and such. Any advice or words of wisdom would be very much appreciated!

Thanks and Happy gardening!
Llamas

[Alice]

Llamas, on alkaline soil if you want flowers Lavender and Carnations will do well for you - as will any of the Alpines - Arabis, Aubretia etc. But I thought flowers was what you had to start with

[Llamas]

I'm looking to re-plant the area. Alot of the old bed was taken over by ground elder, ash seedlings, and other annoying nasties and so most of the flowers had been choked out. I dug out and transplanted what I could (at the direction of OH's mum). Cornflowers, aqueligia (columbines), and various lilies have survived, but I'm looking out for more flowers to put in as I've already got plenty of space for my veg.

[Two_Sheds]

You don't want to be enriching the soil too much for flowers. Many of them like poor soil. Too rich, and you'll get lots of leaf and fewer flowers.

[Llamas]

Thanks. I did not know that. That saves me ALOT of very heavy lifting - now wheres that cake gone...