In my small efforts to make and leave the earth a slightly better place, I have planted apricot, peach, persimmon, apple, and pear trees.

I have not planted any plums.

The Latin word for plum is pruna, which changed in Germanic languages to pluma. It's easy to see the connection of prunes to plums.

The Spanish word for pen is pluma. The reason that sounds like plumes or feathers might be because pens were once made from quill feathers.

At that time, most fancy pillows were stuffed with feathers. If you are saying, "What else could they have used to stuff pillows?" the answer is straw.

An early literary reference to plums is probably Little Jack Horner who put in his thumb and pulled a plum out of his Christmas pie. I don't think there is a recipe connection to plum pudding in Jack's pie, since the definition of plum at the time could mean mean various other fruits. The nursery rhyme was first published in a chapbook designed to be read as a way to spend the winter evenings. You are probably familiar with Mother Goose which is similar.

There are many varieties of plum, but the prettiest is the Green Gage plum. The Green Gage derives its name from the English Gage family. The Green Gage plum has other names in countries other than Britain. "They are also called la bonne reine (French for "the good Queen") in France."

The Green Gage is to plums as Seckel is to pears, that is, they are sweet and considered a dessert fruit.

Some of the best pear dessert recipes are simple ones.