Daniel in the Lions' Den

Following a path to the east of the plaza, we pass Mary's Well and a commercially cast statue of Rebekah. The trail narrows and we arrive at a large tableau of Daniel in the Lions' Den. This is one of the most literally presented scenes in the garden, with concrete lions gloating over real deer bones and a concerned Daniel standing in the corner. To the right, a polished and etched stone illustrates a cartoonish hand with calligraphy pen writing the "Handwriting on the Wall", a vision which Daniel was able to interpret for the King of Babylon.

Following the pathway past the Lion's Den, we ascend a set of cast iron stairs rescued from the steamboat Josephine to a raised parapet. The park guidebook apologizes for the lack of Biblical basis for this structure, but the Wise Men's Tower provides a needed place to get an overview of the park and reflect on the path travelled thus far. The telescope built into the platform is ostensibly for the three Wise Men to study the stars, but there are too many trees here to see much of the sky. Instead it gives us a chance to spy on the farther reaches of the garden and glimpse what lies ahead.

To Egypt

Note the circular mosaic depicting the pyramids of Egypt, and one ceramic frog above standing in for the ten plagues. Which brings us to the adjacent tower:

Joseph's Granary, a circular silo of river cobbles 10-12 feet high, representing the Joseph's vision directing him to store grain in preparation for a coming famine. Near the top of the tower is Adolph and Helen's signature, 1958, and a little porthole where a happy squirrel gazes out, assured that all his acorns are well hidden for the winter.