Issue #1005 Mon 1 Jun
Strands hints — June 1, 2026
Today's grid requires a sharp eye and a bit of patience. Expect a steady, methodical pace as you work through the layout.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You take the same route home and a single door is open that's never open.
Outdoor survival and wild food collection
GATHERING WILD EDIBLES
Spangram 4 nudges · 8 letters
The connector word
A single eight-letter noun.
8 letters.
Starts with F, ends with G.
FORAGING
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (10 letters)
- 2 C (8 letters)
- 3 C (7 letters)
- 4 M (5 letters)
- 5 N (6 letters)
- 6 R (4 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BL (10 letters)
- 2 CH (8 letters)
- 3 CH (7 letters)
- 4 MO (5 letters)
- 5 NE (6 letters)
- 6 RA (4 letters)
Theme word 1 of 6 5 nudges · 10 letters
A theme word
Find these staining your fingers purple along a dusty roadside in late summer.
10 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BL.
BLACKBERRY
Theme word 2 of 6 5 nudges · 8 letters
A theme word
Roast these by an open fire once the husks have dropped in autumn.
8 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CH.
CHESTNUT
Theme word 3 of 6 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
The blue-flowered plant whose roots are often roasted as a coffee substitute.
7 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CH.
CHICORY
Theme word 4 of 6 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
A prized, honeycomb-capped fungus that appears in damp woods after a spring rain.
5 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MO.
MOREL
Theme word 5 of 6 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
Wear thick gloves when handling these, or you will certainly regret the sting.
6 letters.
Starts with N.
Starts with NE.
NETTLE
Theme word 6 of 6 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
Look for these pungent, onion-scented greens in the damp soil of early spring.
4 letters.
Starts with R.
Starts with RA.
RAMP