Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 6 #886

Today's Strands puzzle is a fun one. It helps if you're a fan of gardening and growing things. If you need hints and answers, read on.

Hint for today's Strands puzzle

Today's Strands theme is: Blossoming forth.

If that doesn't help you, here's a clue:Mother Nature.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

• RUDE, LONE, GONE, TRUE, LOWE, WOOD, THORN, HORN

Answers for today's Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight, but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

• CHERRY, DOGWOOD, HAWTHORN, REDBUD, MAGNOLIA

Today's Strands spangram

Today's Strands spangram is FLOWERINGTREE. To find it, start with the F that's the first letter on the bottom row, and wind over and up.

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