Sander's Park Hardwoods

State Natural Area (No. 56)

Location: Within Sanders County Park, Racine County. T3N-R22E, Section 36 N1/2 SE1/4. 34 acres.

Access: From the intersection of State Highways 31 and 11 in southwest Racine, go south on 31 2.1 miles, then east on County Highway KR 1 mile, then north on Woods Road 0.5 mile to the Sanders County Park entrance on the east. The park road encircles the natural area. Several trails traverse the site.

Description: Sanders Park Hardwoods consists of two slightly elevated swells separated by a shallow swale on an ancient terrace of Lake Michigan. Southern dry-mesic forests occupy the two swells with basswood, white oak, black walnut, red oak, and white ash. An elm-ash forest dominates the swale. Dutch elm disease and oak wilt have killed some of the larger canopy trees. The sapling layer is composed of ash, basswood, ironwood, and black cherry. A wildflower guide lists 89 species of flowers and ferns including showy orchis, yellow lady's-slipper, false mermaid, false Solomon's seal, Trillium, sharp-lobed hepatica, spring-beauty, wild geranium, blue cohosh, and the introduced helleborine orchid. Ferns of interest are ostrich, rattlesnake, rusty woodsia, and ebony spleenwort. The uncommon redheaded woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) has nested here. Other breeding birds include great-crested flycatcher, eastern wood pewee, red-eyed vireo, mourning warbler, and indigo bunting. Originally purchased by Racine County in 1930, this area was later dedicated to Edwin Sanders, a local biology teacher. Sanders Park Hardwoods is owned by Racine County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1967.