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The Days of Wine Saturday is a special day on Birch Street, Newport Beach. That is the day when the public is privileged to visit, view, and purchase orchids and other tropical plants from Richard Moriarty. The location of the 6,000 sq. ft. greenhouses featuring more than 10,000 orchids may well be one of Orange County's best-kept secrets. Nestled among office fuildings and burgeoning construction it is easy to drive by 20362 Birch Street without ever noticing what appears to be a small house set back from the road. Moriarty comes by his love for horticulture naturally. He is, after all, the great grandchild of the original Segerstrom family that immigrated from Sweden during the 1800s, settling in Orange County where they farmed and became known for their lima beans-long before the booming success of South Coast Plaza. But his green thumb does not stop there. Just at the end of Birch Street, Moriarty has a very ambitious project underway constructing a 1,000 sqare-food tunnel into the hillside. Now in its fifth year, the vineyard is flourishing on several acres. He is transforming the beautiful site and eventually will build a beautiful home there. In recent weeks he bottled 82 cases of his 2001 vintage Back Bay Cuvee. The wine is served at several area restaurants. Moriarty says his Uncle Henry is one of his best customers. |
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