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New York Times, Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Author:
James Mattina
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Flower found along a metaphorical path of ease
TotalDebut
15/6/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0001000
CircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
11.66123.937%
James Mattina

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 34 Missing: {KQX} Spans: 1 This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Mattina. Grid flow: 23.9 Wednesday freshness: 59%
James Mattina notes:
Florals? For a spring crossword? Groundbreaking. If you're wondering if The Devil Wears Prada 2 sponsored me for a stealth marketing ... read more
Jim Horne notes:
  • BLUEBELL crosses HIBISCUS at B
  • PEONY crosses ASTER at E
  • AZALEA crosses VIOLET at E
  • PRIMROSE crosses DAISY at S

The four crossing letters spell BEES.

1
L
2
I
3
E
4
H
5
A
6
M
7
M
8
B
9
R
10
A
11
C
12
E
13
D
14
I
N
T
15
R
I
G
U
E
16
R
E
S
A
L
E
17
B
L
U
E
B
E
L
L
18
B
A
T
M
A
N
19
R
A
D
I
I
20
C
B
21
D
22
P
E
O
N
Y
23
A
W
E
24
S
25
M
H
26
E
27
V
E
R
28
I
C
E
29
H
A
I
R
30
P
31
B
32
J
33
O
34
D
35
D
N
U
M
36
B
E
R
S
37
P
E
R
U
38
C
R
O
S
S
P
O
L
L
I
39
N
A
T
E
D
40
H
A
L
T
41
H
O
L
Y
T
O
L
E
D
O
42
O
W
L
43
V
I
S
A
44
O
T
S
45
M
I
S
T
46
A
R
F
47
A
48
D
49
E
50
M
51
E
52
T
O
O
53
S
54
A
G
55
O
56
C
C
A
M
57
E
N
R
O
L
58
L
59
S
O
60
C
R
A
T
I
C
61
A
Z
A
L
E
A
62
P
R
I
M
R
O
S
E
63
T
O
M
A
T
O
64
S
A
G
E
65
R
Y
E
© 2026, The New York Times5/6/26 ( No. 27,938 )
Across
1
Don't believe it : LIE
4
Soccer great Mia : HAMM
8
Prepared (for) : BRACED
14
Feature of a spy film : INTRIGUE
16
Scalper's transaction : RESALE
17
Prairie bloom for which a creamery is named : BLUEBELL
18
DC good guy : BATMAN
19
They're found in a circle : RADII
20
Dispensary inits. : CBD
22
Late spring or early summer bloom : PEONY
23
Leave speechless : AWE
24
Texter's "I can't even" : SMH
26
In perpetuity : EVER
28
Winter coat? : ICE
29
Narrow margin of victory : HAIR
30
Lunchbox staple, informally : PBJ
33
All primes except 2 : ODDNUMBERS
37
Country nearest to the Equator without touching it : PERU
38
Hybridized, botanically ... or like four pairs of answers in this puzzle (and the circled letters they intersect on)? : CROSSPOLLINATED
40
"Stop right there!" : HALT
41
"Great Scott!" : HOLYTOLEDO
42
Bird adapted for silent flight : OWL
43
Charging option : VISA
44
Deciding periods, in brief : OTS
45
Airdrops? : MIST
46
[I'm a good boy!] : ARF
47
Summer cooler : ADE
50
Movement started by Tarana Burke in 2006 : METOO
53
Dip : SAG
55
Philosopher William of ___ : OCCAM
57
Become part of a club : ENROLL
59
___ method (type of teaching) : SOCRATIC
61
Bloom whose toxic nectar is one source of "mad honey" : AZALEA
62
Flower found along a metaphorical path of ease : PRIMROSE
63
A bad review might merit a rotten one : TOMATO
64
Like some advice : SAGE
65
Manhattan liquor : RYE
Down
1
First sign of fall : LIBRA
2
Family tree addition : INLAW
3
One of 12 in a Pulitzer-winning piece by composer/pianist William Bolcom : ETUDE
4
Blossom in a lei : HIBISCUS
5
Period in history : AGE
6
Bed cover : MULCH
7
Scary Spice, by another nickname : MELB
8
Texter's "just a sec" : BRB
9
Harvesting machine : REAPER
10
Cousin of edelweiss : ASTER
11
Pattern based on nature, for short : CAMO
12
Stylish flair : ELAN
13
Turn down : DENY
15
King, in Portuguese : REI
21
First word from a wedding officiant : DEARLY
25
Home of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music : MEMPHIS
27
Alice, in Wonderland : VISITOR
28
Part of M.I.T.: Abbr. : INST
29
Very, slangily : HELLA
30
Politician Buttigieg : PETE
31
Partner of born : BRED
32
Sport with throws : JUDO
33
Siete + uno : OCHO
34
Cry in a gunfight : DRAW
35
Cutie pie : DOLL
36
Gives a lift : BOOSTS
37
Besties : PALS
39
"I'll pass" : NOTFORME
43
Flower found at the end of a rainbow? : VIOLET
45
Cold, hard cash : MOOLA
46
Ancient marketplace : AGORA
47
Company man? : ACTOR
48
"Link" in a botanical chain : DAISY
49
Play the host : EMCEE
50
Nitty-gritty : MEAT
51
Automaker Ferrari : ENZO
52
Airport transport : TRAM
54
Some vipers : ASPS
56
Viper, e.g. : CAR
58
Language of Vientiane : LAO
60
Smoke : CIG

Answer summary:
1 unique to this puzzle, 2 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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