Looking for that Latest Strand’s answer? Click here for our daily Strands tips, as well as our daily answers and clues for the New York Times mini crosswords, word puzzles and connective puzzles.

Today’s beaches have a fun theme. I was watching the CBS soap opera “The Bold and The Beautiful” and what struck me again and again was how many of the characters had names that were also natural in origin – Ridge, Thorne and Brooke were the main characters. So that was a fun topic for me. If you need more clues and answers for today’s Strands puzzle, read on.

I also go into detail about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you are looking for today’s word, connect and mini crossword puzzle answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT Puzzle Clues page.

Read more: NYT Connections turns 1: These are the 5 most difficult puzzles so far

Clue for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands topic is: What the hell…?

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a hint: Mother Nature.

Clue words to unlock clues in the game

Your goal is to find hidden words that match the theme of the puzzle. If you get stuck, find all the words you can. Every time you find three words with four or more letters, Strands reveals one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get these clues, but any words with four or more letters that you find will work:

• HEAL, LEAN, VEER, TINE, VINE, MANE, RIVE, MEAL, MALE, ALES, MALES, ROOK, CULL, VINA, RILL

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that fit the topic. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that extends from one side of the puzzle to the other. Once you have all of them (I originally thought it would always be eight, but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board is used. Here are the non-Spangram answers:

• HOLLY, BROOK, RIVER, LAUREL, WILLOW, CLEMENTINE

Today’s Strands Spangram

Today’s Strands Spangram is NATURAL NAMES. To find it, start with the N, which is three letters to the right on the top row, and unwind it.