Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, June 1, 2026 (Puzzle #820). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Shall we gather for lunch"
What It Really Means
This puzzle is about wild edibles -- foods you can find and forage in nature rather than buy at the supermarket. Every theme word is a plant, fungus, or berry that grows wild and can be harvested for a meal.
Think About...
- Wild plants and fungi that people hunt for in forests and fields
- Ingredients that grow without cultivation, often seasonal
- Items associated with foraging, gathering, and wild food traditions
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Across, down and around the board
Letter Count: 8 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the third row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The act of searching for wild food in nature.
Hint 2 (Warmer): What you do when you hunt for mushrooms, berries, and wild greens in the woods.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is F, last letter is G
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FORAGING
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A wild plant that grows along roadsides and in disturbed soil.
Closer: Its leaves are edible and can be used in salads or soups, but handle with care -- it has tiny stinging hairs.
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 6 letters total
Answer
NETTLE
Word 2
Vague: A root vegetable often used as a coffee substitute.
Closer: Its blue flowers and bitter leaves are both edible, and its roasted root has been used as a caffeine-free coffee alternative for centuries.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 7 letters total
Answer
CHICORY
Word 3
Vague: A wild allium that appears in early spring.
Closer: Also called wild leek, this pungent plant has broad green leaves and a garlic-onion flavor prized by foragers.
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 4 letters total
Answer
RAMP
Word 4
Vague: A highly sought-after spring fungus.
Closer: Known for its honeycomb-like cap and nutty, earthy flavor, this wild mushroom is a delicacy that foragers hunt for in forests after spring rains.
Letter Clue: Starts with M, 5 letters total
Answer
MOREL
Word 5
Vague: A nut that falls from a tree in autumn.
Closer: This shiny brown nut is encased in a spiky husk and is a classic foraged food, often roasted or used in stuffing.
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 9 letters total
Answer
CHESTNUT
Word 6
Vague: A dark wild fruit that grows on thorny bushes.
Closer: These tart, dark purple berries grow wild along forest edges and in overgrown fields, and they make excellent jams, pies, and wines.
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 10 letters total
Answer
BLACKBERRY
Full Answers
Spangram: FORAGING
Theme Words:
- NETTLE
- CHICORY
- RAMP
- MOREL
- CHESTNUT
- BLACKBERRY
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: CHICORY (Foragers know it, but casual players might not recognize it as a wild edible -- and it's easy to confuse with other bitter greens like dandelion or endive.)
Our Take: A solid midweek puzzle with a cohesive theme that rewards nature knowledge. The spangram FORAGING ties the board together neatly, and the word list covers a satisfying range of wild edibles from nuts and berries to mushrooms and greens. The grid snakes around enough to keep even experienced Strands players on their toes.
